Waitangi Bay of Islands August 10 1870 My Dear McLean I have just this instant got your very welcome letter of 30th July and as the court opens in half an hour you will excuse hurry in my writing. You have cheered me greatly by your news about Hau's health and I doubly thank you for all you are doing for him making a man of the world of him I have come here as it were in spite of fate to hold a Court but am still very shakey and sometimes feel as if I was not long for this world perhaps I may pull round again when the weather changes for the better I have had Typhus fever caught from natives coming to the court who are since dead. I shall at once write to Webster on the subject you mention I never thought of George the other, John is a sharp clever man of the world. I agree with you entirely as to Gs character too fond of splitting hairs when you see Howorth remember me to him and present my humble respects to be transmitted to Mrs. Howorth I like Howorth and we were very good friends when I was at Wellington. There has been a correspondence between Hetaraka Nero of Raglan and myself lately (begun by himself) I have just recd. a letter from him some part of which where he talks of the Waikato people and their feelings is interesting I therefore send the letter to you being a private letter and not written for effect it is all the more reliable and seems unprejudiced the tone expresses just the feeling I have always had about that people but do not talk of except to you. What a donkey Carleton has been making of himself more than once. I leave you to your political warfare hoping you may carry all before you and now turn to my official Turmoil, as time won't wait. I am, Ever yours sincerely F. E. Maning P.S. If Hau gets ill again he will be better to come to Auckland and start for the Sandwich Islands it would be a great pity to renounce the career you have so kindly opened for him but it could not be helped in case of serious illness. F. E. M.