Hokianga October 23/69. My dear McLean, Many thanks for your two kind notes, and your flattering notice about the state of the breakfast table at Queen St. I hope to see you at another at Hokianga soon, as I am elected a ''professor'' I should be glad if the society who elected me would let me know of what? for I profess I don't know what I am up to yet. I am half murdered with writing, mere clerk work twelve hours a day to pull up office arrears and am so stupified I cant think of a word more to say to you, more than is in a very thick-headed letter I have sent you by this same post. I shall expect you soon and if you will let me know by post when you expect to arrive either at the or I shall send a boat to meet you and bring you here to my place which will be a good head quarters to see the natives of this part of the district. If you chose to take my youngster with you he will be no doubt glad to come and may be usefull as a guide etc. -- write in time after you get to the bay so that you may not have to wait for a boat at the Taheke as the road over dreadfully bad now. I am much obliged for the Governors consideration in offering to land me at home from the ''Sturt'', but I am much better pleased to have come home through the district and seen some of my Maori neighbours, as I have had an opportunity to discuss matters and things with them. I wish the weather was better as you would enjoy your trip to this quarter the more, I hope however that when you come over with the Governor in the fine time of the year that we shall be more comfortable. It was very thoughtfull of you to send me my scraps -- I scrawl hurried memoranda on all sides and then them and some of them I would not care anyone but Donald McLean to laugh at. I am my Dear McLean Yours very sincerely F.E. Maning.