the field of your triumphs. My expectations are, I confess, somewhat more chastened by painful experience of what, in the best of hands, land purchasing operations prove. At all events we have provided the needful both at Napier and Wellington and trust you will do the best with it. As regards the purchase of land in the vicinity of Napier it must be recollected that napier and Wellington dip into the same dish as regards land purchasing operations, and that it would be unfair to Wellington to sink too much in the purchase of suburban land at Napier. It appeared absolutely necessary to give you and Fitzgerald carte blanche in this particular case. I trust to your using it with fairness as regards the old province. If you should succeed in the Straits you will fall with great force on William King when in your progress N. you reach Waitara. I do not expect he will yield till he has unequivocal proof that the Governor is in earnest. Such proof, after his experience of threats, will