22 March 1860 Maraekakaho My dear Donald I was made glade to hear by your letter to Alex that you were at Wellington and again in good health. I hope you will continue to keep strong now and come to your former strength. We have been very busy here nose branding part of the sheep and seperating part of the wethers from the ewes and put 1140 on the upper run also burning and putting grass seed here and their on the hills. We have two men fencing the large padock below the yards which will be a fine paddock as part of the hill is taken in with it. The number nose branded this time is 3200. Cannot do the ewes till after lambing in fear of hurting them. Alex has been busy breaking in horses. He is trying to break in the bay entire to harness. He is now always at home only when busness requires him away and doing everything in his power to forward the place. When the big padock is done the boundary fence between Tuke and this will be commenced and I hope finished this winter. It is going to be wire with a top rail. I think Alex has made a capital exchange by gaving the old sheep for horses. The entire farmer [?] he got from Hamlin is a splendid horse and will work in the shafts capital. The sheep are looking very well and the grass is now growing in this districk since we had the last shortfall of rain. The potatoe crops has been a failure in all the districk with the worm but I am happy to say ours are not so bad and I think will have enough to serve us. We have plenty of gardin stuff also I got a letter from my wife stating she had heard from me at last. She says our sisters are all well. Flora Ann was near confinement and Annabella was going to attend her. Catherine is still in the same place. I hope you will come here before going to Auckland so that I may see you. Poor little Douglas will have missed you ...... [Last page torn in half and five lines of text missing] doing well, at school to Mr Strang for towards me Remain your