Auckland 6th March 1858 My Dear Sir, I have just received your very laconic letter of 23rd Feb. and am mightily amused with the first part of it, wherein you wish me happiness etc. I suppose in consequence of some nonsensical trash I have been writing to you lately, which you construed literally, but I forgot for the moment that you were not as w ell acquainted with my humbugging propensities in the matter of ladies as some of our friends in New Plymouth who have faith in me in every other respect but in this particular pray set fire to any letter of mine with reference to this subject and commit this to the flames when you arrive at the conclusion. I have much to communicate to you which cannot be written down, but you must not infer from hence that it is anything unfavorable to myself. Since the receipt of your stinging epistle which has been acknowledged rather abruptly, great changes have taken place in the shape of removals. We are now quietly settled down in the retreat boarding house next door