daughter (Ngatitiata I think, Waiuku) to wife? That would be a thing in favour of peace. I will ask the Provincial Govt. people about Croker, but I think their great aim is to shunt him on to us, as there are heaps of things they could have given him if they had chosen. I am very sorry for his family and there have been one or two subscriptions; but he is utterly out of the question for Govt. so far as I can judge. Featherston's success is really very fine -I wonder what the Archdeacon says to it all. Bathgate I telegraphed about. In addition to Johnston he gave me the names of 5 or 6 other solicitors here who are stll on the roll. He will stand for the Assembly for the goldfields or somewhere at the first vacancy, and having the gift of the gab will be a bore if he gets in -- he has a deadly hatred to Vogel and will do anything against him that he can; so