Friday evening 13th Sep.67 Napier My dear McLean I do not know that I shall come to Town in the morning as there is nothing particular stirring here so I write a few lines for the Steamer on Sunday. Carter and the Treasury are at low water mark but this will be little news to you - Weber and Cooper are again up country to settle the Takapau claim - The great Maorie feast is over and Te Heu Heu called here yesterday saying he was on his way to Taupo - requesting me to supply him with sugar tobacco etc. etc., but I declined as I thought he had had enough of feasting for a short time, but I enclose you the mem. on the subject which perhaps you know all about - I have heard nothing of the road projected - The Council met on the 10th pursuant to adjournment and the orders of the day were read and postponed until next sitting day. I have fixed the next sitting day for the 1st Oct. as there was a prevailing opinion that the mail days were to be altered from the 25th to the 29th and that was not a sitting day - There was not a quorum present so that standing rules could not be suspended - and I fancy the country members would not be in if called down here on the 25th and thenfound that you were not back to receive them. Wilson has promised to have the Bills in readiness and I have been through the estimates and got them printed ready for use so that we need have but little delay when we do meet - Seven days should enable us to do all that we have to do, at least I know we can spend all our money in that time. Locke and the St. Kilda have not put in an appearance yet, or the "Star of the South" so that we are devoid of news both ways. I trust we shall have a market for our stock some time for I fear there is but little tallow to try out of most of the sheep of this province if we resort to boiling down - The weather is everything that could be wished fine spring - "Half sunshine" "half tears" like the springs we love best. Yours very truly Joseph Rhodes