Dunedin 21 October 1869 My dear Fox, As you say in one of your last telegrams, the wires have done all that is necessary in the way of communication and I have nothing to tell you in particular. I enclose the draft of the proposed letter to C.W. and a note I send him with it. If he decides now to accept, he will tell you so by the Wellington and you can then send him the letter officially If hererefuses, then we shall have the satisfaction of having done all we could in fairness, and although there will be no official letter from you the draft will always show how far we went to meet him. You asked me in a recent telegm whether John McGregor of Southland is a proper person for J. P. I have enquired and can only learn of one John McGregor, who is partner with Mr. Low in the Mararoa Station near Hankinson's country,so I suppose he is the man. He kept a public house at Taieri Ferry some years ago, but is a respectable man enough. However, I don't think a man who has kept a public should be put in the commission -- one cant helpt it with these municipal mayors, but then their commission is only during office. The telegram Gisborne sent me about Ormond's remuneration I had quite forgotten. Whatever you all in Wellington decide I am willing for. Howorth has some fine artists proofs of prints he wants to sell at 10£ each for Govt, house -- he was under the impression that Vogel had promised to take them, but Vogel telegraphed to me he had done nothing of the sort. If any prints were thought of as part of the Govt. House properties it wd be a good opportunity to get a few of Howorth's -- but for my own part I don't see the good of spending money in that way. The telegram I sent you yesterday after seeing Macandrew about the prisoners will have told you what can be done. I advise not more than 40 or at any rate 50 being sent down now -- if all goes right you will be able to get accommodation for more by sending away the debtors and women to some other place that can be temporarily made into a prison. Or you can have an adition built to the gaol itself, as there is ground available seawards. You will hear further particulars from Branigan when he returns, as Strode promised to have & talk with him and I am going to do the same today. Strode's report is enclosed herewith. If C. W. refuses to go home and would take the P.M.G. I have no objection, as somehow or other we must get a southern man into the Government. But he would do us not much good as a speaker; and his forte would be in looking after votes. I still mean to leave here very early in November, have a day or two to meet the Christchurch people, and go up so as to lave a day or two with you all, and then off. I consider it very necessary Featherston should go to Melbourne in time to see Chute, and not wait for the Tararua which only arrives a few hours before the ocean steamer leaves. Yours very truly, F. D. Bell. W. Fox