Te Wairoa August 22nd. 1867 My dear McLean, When I was in Napier, you were too busy with Provincial affairs, for me to have any conversation with you relative to employment in any new force which may be embodied for the defence of the Colony. I have ventured, therefore, to ask you to interest yourself in my behalf; as we are likely to be placed on our land almost at once. The Government have only made provision for one Sublatern Officer, and fifty men, who are to be re-embodied, as a temporary measure, so soon as the land is alloted. My claim for service is as good as any; and the influence I have in the place, both as regards natives and Europeans, is second to none. We get such a small modicum of news from Wellington, that we are almost totally ignorant