Poverty Bay 7 January 1868 Dear Mr. McLean I see there is not much chance of your coming up till after the Prince has been and gone, so if you would let me know whether you want me to get any thing prepared for you between now and then I will do so. I am going on Friday to explore this side of Whakapunaki to see if there is not a shorter road than the one in use to the Wairoa. I spoke to you abbut it when last in Napier I have been suffering so much from my throat ever since that I have been afraid to sleep out and as I can not get well by doctoring I shall try leaving it alone and see if nature is not the best nurse after all. We are suffering much from want of rain the Natives tell me that potatoes kumeras and corn will be destroyed by the drought if one may judge from ray own garden such will be the case. Even the weeds are getting burnt up so you may fancy how much we want a good downfall of rain. There was a drunken row at Turanganui on Xmas day some of the Maori soldiers fired off their rifles in the air luckily Paora Parau was the principle in the affair the following day I dismissed Paora and seven natives. They might fight with fists and sticks as much as they liked but I did not like the resorting to their rifles so I thought it best to punish them severely. Haultain in Richmond's absence has reduced my pay by £350. The Govt. don't give one much time to prepare for a reduction. Yours very truly Reginald Newton Biggs