Tuesday Dec. 20th. 1862. D. MacLean Esquire, My dear MacLean, I thank you for your very kind letter. Being very busy in collecting sheep for a general muster for tomorrow I am only able to write you very briefly. I duly observe all you say, and should be glad to meet your ideas. The fact is that I retired from Te Aute and hoped to retire entirely, but find now I am pressed to stand for Wai makama by some of my neighbours who ask for a resident member. I have fully explained to our friend Fitzgerald, and I have asked him to be so good as to explain to yourself more fully how matters stand. Whatever occurs I am truly glad to think that you should have entered the Council and I am very pleased to hear of it, as I feel assured are many others. Seldom leaving home and seeing but few persons I hardly know what is going on elsewhere. If Ormond does not stand, I presume that J.D. Canning will. Carlyon I was told would not come forward again. In confidence I may name to you that although I believe if I had wished and made exertion I could have been returned Te Aute yet, there are some 2 or 3 who would make great exertions to keep me out. Really I do not like the Council work and on Saturdays and Mondays the Town members objected to sit - a great task on us - as there is little to amuse one in Napier - who is non-resident. Please excuse these hasty lines, and melieve me always, Most faithfully yours, E. S. Curling.