Hokianga Novr. 29, 69. My dear McLean, I am glad you like my youngster I gave him a good physical education and taught him after the manner of the ancient Persians to ''ride and shoot, and speak the truth'' he can moreover fence and dance and use his ''natural weapons'' in a way interesting to behold. As to his other and more humane fitting up I left it to the shhoolmasters who I am sorry to say neglected him shamefully and anything he has learned has been in spite of them Dr. Kidd is however a good man and had done something for him as I see by the style of his writing in the copy of the journal you were so good as to send me. I hope he may turn out some use to himself and his Country. I am myself almost worn out with mere clerk work and ever since I came home full twelve hours a day at it and sometimes more and I am also very much in the dumps and aggrivated about matters I will tell you of. I perceive or I am greatly mistaken that Feston has apparently on account of my giving the judgement in the Manawatu affair without him, but more because he sees that altho I am of his mob now that I keep up my old friendship with you or rather you with me, taken a regular spite against me and seems to intend if possible somehow to put me in a rage and get me to resign by giving me as much trouble as he can and also work which I Should not have to do, and does it all in such a cunning insidious way that it is doubly annoying. When in Auckland I told or rather hinted to him that I should perhaps some day require a leave of absence for a little time to do something with you or for you he fired up at once and told me I had better resign it and from that time he seems to have got still more peevish and by a strange I find that Carleton and the Godly people down here are laying little plots and traps (which they as a rule fall into themselves) to annoy or perplex me in a quiet Christian way. I have often of late been very much inclined to resign and scarcely know how I shall decide I have hinted to some of my native friends that I was thinking of it but they set their faces against it strongly and say if I do there will be mischief and not so much work done as to the latter I believe they are right but I cant stand anything from a man who has nothing on earth respectable about him but his small cunning and selfassertion the quality of calling himself an oracle untill the majority of men, who are always fools, believe him. It would be improper and cowardly of me to strike just now when I have such a mass of claims many of them very complicated to settle as a stranger could not take them up with the advantage I can but after I have overtaken the work and left a clear stage if I can for anyone else. If our Friend has not altered (a leopard change his spots.') very much in his style towards me I must give in. I had all I could do to keep my temper and not create a ''Scene'' at Wellington he treated me so uncivilly on the bench. One thing is certain I shall decline to sit with him again. If ever he asks me unless he apologises for his manner at Wellington. I have no one to let off my wrath to here and so you must excuse me if possible I declare were it not for the consideration I have mentioned I would beg to be allowed to resign my office this day.I care nothing at all about the amount of work I have a pride in going through with it but I cant stand little sand-fly biting from a person who in no point of view have I ever particularly admired or looked upon as my equal even, except fiddleing. I wish you were here to cheer me up with your good friendship, one look of you would put me right I think. I have been rehearsing on the mullet and when you come my hand will be in. I have a lot smoked and ready and when you arrive we shall have at them a la Naturel also. Don't I wish I had nothing to do so that I might ride a day or two on your way north and tell you all the inns and outs of the natives you meet who to believe and who not etc. -- and all sorts of private histories amusing and usefull. It is reported here that Aperahama Taonui is coming with you. Believe me My Dear McLean, Yours most sincerely, F.E. Maning. Of course you will consider this perfectly confidential there is no one else I would say it to. F.E.M. The things to be ascertained before any serious action should be taken would be -- 1.Is the letter you have received really from the parties signing it. 2.To find if the chiefs of importance who have not signed will take part in the movement. 3. for if so success would be sure provided they did not ask too much -- and that should be also ascertained before doing anything. I would also make it appear, as indeed it is, that the whole matter arose from the spontaneous action of the Ngapuhi tribe I would also endeavour to implicate to Rarawa in the matter -- this would be a nice proceeding -and the whole affair would require at least a month -before a safe report could be made.