from Brown the last day I was down for £11.5 (gross 112 lb nett 89lb) at three month that I hope will do us now the year. It was fearful the tea that was consumed here. Certainly some of it went to the bush men @ 4/- per lb on that their was profit off but the McRae woman used while here 32lb tea, besides what was used at the station. We are using now less than the half of the tea and sugar that was used last year. Their is fo[u]r M[a]ories included in those two bills to keep them quite in sugar and things £6-7 formerly and this last time for the mill in place of £30. I got them well pleased with 5 bag sugar 40lb each and 6lb of tea. They said they would not trouble me for six months after that but their word is not much. Alex told me it was the best thing I could do and was quite shure it would do good. You see our wheat is at the mill and the grinding of that would have to be paid besides they will have some payment for the plains so that those things is unavoidable. You would see by my last that I went to Alex place to see him and he always has proved our friend. He said he would come up here next week and gave me all the M[a]ori news. I must now tell each time I have been at the port it only cost me 10/-. I may say no one could do it any cheaper than that. I cannot tell you every thing on paper but I wish to God you could soon come down yourself. I was in hopes of your coming till I got your last letter. I see by it you are not able to come just now or you would not want the eggs. I do fear that the trees will be two late. You know those we got before were all gone being planted that dry summer. There is nothing like seed and rase them myself. However if you have bought them I will be proud of them and plant them in a good place. If this gets you before they are shipped let every care be taken that no salt water will get to them and let all the air possible be kept from them. I will gave you a scratch of all the wages that I know that is unpaid. Old Archy has been here now 2 years and 4 months. I do not know his