Auckland 21 Mar /63 My dear Sir, I received your two notes after I returned from Raglan and the wigging you give me for being so lazy. I hope will have a proper effect - Ferrard and I saw the announcement in the paper, before we left for this place, of your unanimous election to the Superintendency of the province of Hawke, and I at once acknowledge my remissness in not writing to you sooner to say more power and long life to your Honor. On returning to Mount Albert I found all as well as might be expected, except that the cost of things required to carry on the war with those large blocks of scoria to which you refer, is becoming rather more than I can bear up against. It will be no news to you that the Governor and nearly all his Ministers are at Taranaki 300 of the 70th have been shipped off there, 50 artillery with Horses are now there, and Captain Mercer with 50 more will be there in a few days to act as cavalry in case of necessity - The Harrier came in last evening and reports everything progressing favorably - You will of course have heard of the difficulty at Kohe Kohe, Waikato, the timber for erecting a police station at Wi te Wheoro's place, was thrown into the river and some of it brought to land again by the resident natives - the latest from there is that the contractors were obliged to having been ordered away by and others - The Governor will be in a great fury about this - Letters have come from him to Matutaera, and all the Chiefs and the effect they will have as you know will avail nothing - I should like to write you a long yarn but am shipped to do a lot of work which comes hard upon me in the office - Our friend Smith is up and many a long talk we have had about you and the good old days which I should willingly forego the Extra £100 to see back again - Mrs. Farr and all the people at Mount Albert desire to be kindly remembered to you. Yours ever, John Rogan