Auckland. Septr. 22/45. My Dear Sir, I have received your letter by Mr. Bolland and have been glad to hear of your safe return from the long and interesting journey you had to Taupo Your Report has done you credit and the discharge of your duties generally has given much satisfaction to your official superiors at head quarters I hear of it with very much pleasure as you may suppose as I recommended you to your appointment. I hope you will go on improving yourself still more in framing Reports and qualifying yourself for advancement in your department. I have spoken to Mr. Shepherd about paying what is due you for contingencies to Mr. McDonald as you requested and I believe there will be no obstacle to it. If I can do anything further for you I shall be very glad and hope you will not scruple to ask me to do so. I hope you will be able to obtain the leave of absence which you mention when I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again in Auckland we have very little news here at present being anxiously looking for something being at the Bay of Islands. There are now altogether about 1000 soldiers and four men of war about New Zealand and I hope they will soon be able to do something effective for establishing peace in the Colony - If you have got any shells for me I would be obliged to you to send me them by the "Victoria" when she touches at Taranaki. If you could get me any nice pieces of Native carving in wood at a moderate price I would feel much obliged or any other curiosity you think I should like. There will be another opportunity in a few days when I will write you again, but at present I must stop my very hurried Note and remain Yours truly, A. Sinclair.