Wanganui 17 March/60 My dear Sir, I am sadly afraid I have missed you, by going overland. And ere now, you may be at Auckland on your way to England, so that I may not see you. But if you are in N. P. you will see how I get on from my letter to Mr. Richmond. I am now off up the river as far as Pipiriki, and shall be back again by next Saturday. I am sincerely thankful to you for your recommendation in report to Wellington, but Mrs. T. 's dread of earthquakes, and the state of my finances will preclude any acceptance of the situation if ever offered to me. Fact is, that unless all my children can live together at home, they cannot live at all on present income, supplemented as it is, with other sums from various sources. In 1858, my 3 eldest boys cost abt. £180 - chiefly in board and lodgings. If the same arrangement cld. be made in Auckland as you propose at Wellington, and the Govt. wd. appoint me as R.M. to the Natives all around (in Districts wh. I have recently been working vix. Hauraki, Waitemata and Manukao) how glad I shd. be, as it wd. prevent the necessity of my going into business wh. I dread very much. Mr. Smith is for it, but Mr. Richd., I think, against it. And yet it is more needed there, than in almost any other part; as it is, the nearer the Natives are to the centre of civilization, the more they feel themselves neglected. Besides having a large number of accredited assessors in those districts, acting without the least guidance or responsibility. Please call and see Mrs. T. when in Auckland. So goodbye for the present. Yours sincerely, in great haste, H. Hanson Turton.