Melford Cottage, Napier, 20th March/60 My dear McLean, Many thanks for your kind letter it is like you and it came like a good Samaritan in time of need. A regular set has been made against me in the Council as well as against yourself and I tell you who pulled the strings? I cannot make out why Tom Fitz did not support you he is a double faced brute after all his promises to me of advancement he ends by giving the great of excuse of my having complained against Tiffen and defended myself against his attacks of a personal nature, doing his best to influence the Council and dismissing me from the service of the Province - so after the few surveys to be done are completed master Fitz of nearly ten years service in Government in New Zealand will have no employment. Believe me my dear McLean that I did every thing which I could possibly do to advance the surveys and have often pushed Cooper in so doing and suffered without complaint many discourtesies from him. Enclosed are copies from the Hawkes' Bay Herald of the Sayings and doings. The entire of the surveys could have been completed two months ago if Cooper did his work in a proper manner, rest assured of this that if you retain him in his present office and do not come here yourself that the Government will receive an injury not to be got over. He has made a regular mess of the Ahuriri block. Mr. Samuel Lock is worth six of Mr. C. and I am sure would make a good Commissr. Mrs. Fitz and the baby send kind remembrances, and I believe me, My dear old friend, Yours very sincerely & Truly, M. Fitzgerald I wrote to you relative to my allowances of 7/- per diem and enclosed you my letter of instructions to be changed you may remember that you even offered me more, and that I refused and at the same time you paid me in advance three months allowance for every day. The letter of instruction does not fully express this.