My dear Sir, I have your note of this morning, enquiring if I knew any remedy for the Piripiri. - I am sorry to say that I do not. I only wish I did. I have long been of opinion that this plant was likely to give you (Flock-omers) much more trouble and loss than the thistle, - about which so much has been said. One thing is certain - the Piripiri is prodigiously spreading and is a and likes (and lives in) all soils and situations. I was astonished - in 1863, in going to Wairoa - to see so much of it at Valley, Tangoio, and - all, I think, owing to the sheep carrying the seeds on to bare, or burnt off, land. Unfortunately it is one of those plants which , (something like the strawberry,) so that plant will cover a large space, if left alone, and soil suitable to it. I had a plant or two in this paddock, - where the hay is now cutting, - and I worked hard to destroy it, for several years: I think I have prevailed, - but, if so, it was only after a hard and long fight. - I know it springs from portions of old roots - something like sorrel, and dock, and if rooted up and thrown down, Carelessly, and wet weather comes on, it will take root again. I think you will have to come to paring it off, with a sharp spade, or good hoe, every season , and burning it; an active man could destroy a good deal in a day where the ground is open, as I have known plant to spread out at large as a dining table, and it is soon turned over. I should think - if turned up in early or mid-summer, and then the spots sown with white clover, in early autumn, (especially if there is any lime in the soil, as there is here Scinde Island) that it could eradicated. I hope your present loss of wool, through shearing early, will not occur again - as/I suppose your quantity would be on their backs by the early season of next Year. I am sorry my dear Sir that I can not say anything better respecting the extirpation of this enemy. And am, Yours very truly, Wm. Colenso. Novr. 8/67 I may add - the same plant is common in Tasmania, S. E. Australia and Victoria: how do the Settlers manage there? W. C.