they are going to be a great pest to us. Their dogs have killed a number of Oliver and Ormond's sheep also 4 s[h]eep of ours since they came their. I have done all I could among them and they are now afraid and keeping the dogs tyed in fear I will shoot or poison them. They also burned about 200 of our posts in the bush but not wilfully so I must get all the timber we have split taken out or we may lose it all as they are burning all round it. They say they will take every care. Ormond got all his out and I will get all ours out next week. I will have to employ Walker for taking it out of the bush as our own dray is not strong enough for that work. I supose you will let us know when Alex comes down about dividing the padock. We cannot well do without that and if the stuff was on the ground I could put it up myself with another man. The diggings is making a great stir in this place and every one that can is going. I am afraid it will make labour high and sheep shearing I fear will be 30/- per 100. I think we could get the natives that time at the bush to shear for 20/-. Mr Lowry our neighbour and one of the best of them has taken a great liking to me since we got acquent and sent me several invitations to go to see him. I went the other day and he just had got a box of all kind of forest English tree. Sends pines, oaks, ealms, ash etc etc and kindly gave me a large quantity and so did Mr Smith and if they will only grow they will make up for any that may die of the Auckland plants and fear for all my trouble a number will die. There is nothing like rising them myself. Lowrey came over with me to see our improvements and he stayed two nights. He was very agreeable. He is making a splendid place of his place. He has in one year got 300 acres under grass and fenced in with ditch and bank and wire with small posts on top. I was