Napier 1st August 1867 My dear Mr. McLean, As Locke will see you tomorrow, he will tell you the little news we have here - Poor Sam was dreadfully nervous at the wedding this morning - It was a very quiet affair, only about 2 doz. people present and a glass of Moselle afterwards at Brandon's - Rhodes seemed to feel the loss of his daughter - Matters are getting on here steadily. The roads are all now in good order, and Waitangi bridge is opened for traffic and the Meanee is to be open on Saturday - Captn. Carter will have written that he israther/pushed, owing to the General Govt. having again stopped the payment of his Land revenue - If you can arrange to send over some money or arrange matters with the General Govt., things will go smoothly enough. The Papakura Block is still under off, I believe the Natives have come down to about £3 per acre and will very soon be ready to accept £2 - Locke, if he has sobered down sufficiently, will tell you more particulars, but I believe that by providing £2000 within 1 month, the rest (about £3000) may stand over for some months - I am starting tomorrow for Wainui to meet Ross, who is now pegging out the line of Telegraph, should I not meet him there, I shall proceed towards Castle point and shall of course call at Akitio - From what I hear your time is dreadfully occupied with the business of the house, dinners and evening parties - Everybody was glad to see you making a stand against the Ultra Provincialist parties - No matter what people may think about Provincialism as it is, I do not think that there are 25 people in this Province who would work for reannexation to Wellington - With kind regards to Mrs. Kirk and Miss McLean Yours very truly Charles Weber D. McLean Esq. Wellington