Kohanga, Jan. 31, 1857. My dear Sir, I am much obliged for your kind attention in the matter of the farm servant. I expect that a Nova Scotian would answer well for the bush, as we don't want a but rather a good ploughman accustomed to those shifts which an out settler is often driven to. Mata's party declined any farther services of the man we have here and I have accordingly given him notice to leave. One of them had been in our school for some time and manages the cattle very well. On the whole they are going to work in the most satisfactory manner, and I am in hopes that the experiment, as far as the mere farming is concerned, will succeed well; and that a good supply will come in by and bye for stocking their property. They are beginning now to fence. We don't feel disposed to exceed £50 and rations for the farm servant. We should prefer £45 for the first year; £50 for the second. If the man agrees to those terms he might come in the course of two or three weeks, with the post man who leaves Auckland every Monday at 2 o.c., his heavy things coming by boat. If he has a family they had better come by boat --- all of them, and in that case I shall have to make arrangements for a canoe to fetch him thence. My present man won't leave before March 1. Perhaps I may hear further from you before then. I am, My dear Sir, Yours truly, R. Maunsell.