I stick to Wood who deserves it for he has behaved very well to us all through. It may however be as well for you to give Mr. Lord his Commission as Lieutenant - He is constantly asking about it. Enclosed is the first number of the Telegraph which contains what they reported as my speech. It is a terrible mess and arrant nonsense throughout - what I did say is not recognizable and lots put in I did not say - I also send you the printed paper that was prepared for circulation just before your Election came off - It is the only copy that saw the light and was placed on the Club Table where I got it from - Friends Wilson and Russell got it up between them. The Elections are not going at all well in the South for your Govt. and it will be a very difficult House to meet - If Vogel is back and goes on as last year there will be a kick up in a week - Luckily Travers and Richmond have been kept out at Wellington but there are plenty of troublesome men getting in. The South is certainly returning an adverse majority - The Northern elections have yet to be heard of - I hear from the South