Auckland 23rd May 1859 My Dear Sir, I received your two letters by the last O.L.M. and was highly amused at your description of the Hibeman Landlord on the Boulder bank, who must have been a bright specimen of Ireland's sons -- I have been away at Manga-tawhiri since I wrote to you last and although I could not purchase the piece of land which was offered, yet I succeeded in buying a right of road and a strip of land which was absolutely required by the Provincial Government as they had actually run the road through Native land without even consulting the proprietors. However the matter is now settled satisfactorily -- Excepting the 50,000 acres of Kemps at Kawakawa there is nothing doing either in or out of the office, there is not a single thing on the board and never was the native question so dull to my knowledge since I have been in Auckland, which I suppose is mainly owing to the Governor and yourself being absent from Head quarters there is literally nothing to do in any of the offices except the customs. We have had an additional supply of 40 acre men by the ''Prince Edward'' and ''Caducrus'' nearly 500 in all, queer looking fellows they appear wandering about town disconsolate but they are gradually disappearing to Whangarei, Te Ikarunganui and other equally outlandish localities. I wish them luck -- I expect some 3 or 4 of my relations down from Melbourne in a few months as they are again out of employment and I shall have to establish them out at Pahakura on the 60 acres but I am not sanguine that they will do anything on the model farm principle for which I foresee that I shall have to pay the piper -- I saw Richmond this morning and entered into several questions connected with the purchases at Whangarei and there is no disposition to advance the price for the land which has been surveyed by Sinclair at Patana and indeed I do not see much use in giving any more as they ask such asum as we cannot approach. The Kaipara people are all witing to hear from H. E. for the great meeting which is to take place when you return from the South. I have not had a farthing of money from New Plymouth yet and W. H., who when I returned from Melbourne asked for an extension of time but has taken no notice of me since -- I am about to leave for the Waikui a wera between Pakiri and Mangawai and I hope by the time I have done there that you will be back again in Auckland -- I have not a single word of news for you of any description -- No white man or Lord worsted yet. 25th. The ''Budalbano'' arrived this morning with the news that the Steamer saild three days previously with the mails but she has not appeared to us yet. Sydney is dull and suffering from a general depression. Read the leading article by Messrs. Fenton and Carleton in yesterdays Cross on the native question wherein the Native Department is called everything that's bad. Old Buddle has come up from New Plymouth and you know how these Wesleyan Missionary yarn when they do happen to take a trip into the Country which is not often. I heard Fenton mention his name yesterday in reference to the Natives about Kawhia and I merely suspect that the action alluded to was got up from his description of the state of matters in the South -- But although Carleton may be learned yet for all that he is an ass - 28th. The Lord Ashley is in with the Mails and sails again on tomorrow -- The ''Swan'' arrived last night with the Governor all right. I see Friend is to join you and I think it will be a good thing for him -- No news that I am aware of has been received as to the fate of the Waste lands Act. With regard to my being removed to the South, I should have liked it much if you had sent me there in the first instance. Your taking me away from N. P. as it were at a moments notice has been a clear loss to me of £500 which I am not likely to recover in a hurry I have been buying land since you left and nearly all my money is out in different ways and it is likely that some of my friends will join me here in a few months and altogether it would probably floor me if you were to send me South without giving me a few months to collect my property together -- However I dont anticipate that you will be in a hurry to ship me from the North so I shall rest contented on that point. Should anything transpire before the sailing of the Swan I shall not fail to write another epistle and in the meantime I am yours always John Rogan