14 January 1862 Maraekakaho My dear Donald You would expect a letter by last steamer from me. I did write but the steamer was gone before it got to Napier therefore I send this to embrace the first opportunity in case it may overtake you at Wellington before leaving for here. It made me very unhappy not having seen you before you went on but I sincerely hope you will soon come here for I long much to see you so as to arrange matters better than they at preasant are, however I need not say anything about them things at preasant as I hope soon to see you. All I can say is that we passed a better New Year here this time than we ever did before. We were only saying how much pleasanter it would have been had you been here with Douglas but no doubt his dear old grandfather would enjoy your company equally as much. There is nothing diffinate done with the Maories as yet but I think that we will manage to retain the plains but at a rent much higher than I expected. The sheep have done remarkable well this last year. The lambing and lambs are excelent. There is over 2000 lambs between the two dockings so that is not so bad after the number of breeding sheep that went to Otago. We shore this year 4062 sheep included in this number about 80 lambs making (46 1/2) forty six and a half bales. If God spairs us next year their will be 2000 lambs with heavey fleeces on them to shere. The wool has all gone to Napier but 8 bales which will go this week. It is at Smith store. I do not know what Alex is going to do with it. I wrote