Hobson Street May 7th 1874 Mon chere frere Had both your letters. One from Auckland, the other from Sydney. We hoped to have heard of you yesterday as the Melbourne mail was in but we conclude you would be on your way from Sydney to Melbourne or otherwise engaged as no tidings have reached us by this mail. We are not without a little anxiety about letters & mails. We have had lovely weather here with an occasional break of a bad day. Matters are going on in all directions as smoothly as possible. Judge Rogan has finished his last sittings with great eclat and has gone on to Foxton. Nothing could excuse Sir James Fergusson's discretion in addressing the natives for which he meets with the approbation of the whole country. Surely you have a noble backing in him and it is to be hoped that the ministry as a whole will know now to duly appreciate his worth. He has more diplomacy along with the elements of a true statesman than any Gov N.Z. has ever been blessed with. Mackay I suppose is doing his best with [incomplete letter]