for to visit them - he has taken their fancy. Hawthorne is to be correspondent to the Herald.You can make him useful. Feby. 15th. 1870. There was great glee when news arrived by the Coomuay from Manukau abt Lieut. Maris brave conduct and when your letter arrived it was better still. All are in great spirits -Hamlin I am certain will win his laurels with the Ngatiporous he calls them his pets and they and Ropata have every confidence in him - I wish as I said in a former part of my letter that you had a few officers like him. I have been kept so hard at work that I must now close in time for mail. I wish you every success and some how feel good news will soon arrive. I enclose an extract from the "Standard". The people down South so I hear from several quarters are hot for separation from Great Britain. I have the hr. to be Sir Your most obt. svt. Geo. Thos. Fannin.