it may be more agreeable to you. The gold diggings are progressing notwithstanding the flooded state of the Rivers in summer I am sure by all accounts there will be great prices obtained, the population is increasing rapidly every vessell and they arrive now almost daily, comes ladened with passengers. Our carpenter Superintendent is again elected by a majority of 203 but he will have a great majority against him in the Council in the Town of Nelson they have returned six Gentlemen viz. Monro Renwick Domett Adams Macky and the younger Curtis, in the Country Districts the have returned respectable good men with the exception of Waimea West where they have returned a notorious bad character in preference to Hy.Redwood who has always done everything in his power to benefit the Province. Let me have the Auckland gossip whenever you have leisure. Yours, my dear McLean, Very sincerely, M. RICHMOND