not given the Auckland People the slip, and got into a difficulty. I am glad to hear the military spirit is so good up there. I suppose it was owing to the prize firing being held at Auckland, so the money has been well spent. I am always reading that the thing will get too cumbersome and expensive and so break down by its own weight. I wish Harington was back in his office. Fairchild telegraphs today from Greymouth where he arrived this morning. He could not communicate with Martin's Bay on acct. of S.W. gales, though he lay off the place for 3 days. Now he remains at Greymouth till Thursday, and will be here on Saturday the 22nd., so I suppose you may expect him at Auckland somewhere about 28th. or 29th. as he will stay here at least two days. I am very much amused at Gillies, of all men in the world, complaining of tart letters. If there is a man in N.Z. who regularly and habitually writes impudent, and frequent-ly insulting letters to Cent. Govt., Mr. Gillies is the man. I should like to sit humbly at his feet