Napier Octr. 6th 66 Dear Sir, After careful review of the subject of your expressed wish that "I should write a history of the past 30 or 40 years of the East Coast" - I have come to the conclusion that it is both possible and desirable to do so but on a more extended plan than a mere newspaper article or series of articles. A work something in style and size resembling Mannings 'Old New Zealand' would be of sufficient present interest to pay or nearly pay the expence of publication, and would furnish material also towards a future History of N.Z. - I am bold enough to think the task not beyond my strength, and will undertake it provided sufficient facilities be afforded me. The foremost difficulty is the