and complete. He would be the best person to manage the Northern purchases. McDonell is very unsatisfactory. I have telegraphed to Mair about cattle complained of by Urewera. We assume that they are his. Capt. Turner reports road between Whakatane and Te Teko going ahead - sixty natives at work. Puckey reports Ohinemuri road to commence today. I hope he will be carefull. I wonder whether they are stealing a march on old Te Hira and taking advantage of his absence. Sorry to say that Hopkins is seriously unwell and in Auckland - a little better when I heard last. I am getting on with office work. All my drafting work of Maori letters I do at home. I am getting a nice room fitted up in my new house for a private office. - where I shall be able to do as much of an evening as I do in a whole day here.