about the purchase of the Bush (70 Mile) and to my very great disappointment utterly failed in doing anything - The weather was very bad and Takapou is not a nice place and altogether there was a break down - Locke is a capital man to smooth down difficulties - but wants vigour - He thinks no persistence would have made any difference - but I do - He did get from the Natives an acknowledgment of advances - cost of survey to the extent of £1200 which they agree is a first charge in the land - They still persist the land is sold to the Govt. but they question the price - This unexpected termination has upset all my plans - There is no chance of the Railway without the Bush to offer s security. It wd. be useless asking the Assembly to consider it - And now the difficulty is to do anything before the Assembly meets - I have thought it over in all ways and as we must make an effort to settle it I propose to take advantage of your visit here to endeavour to get together another Meeting and try it - under ordinary circumstances I would not press the