so very kind as to get for him) since the year before we left New Zealand. I hope they are thriving and that they have grown into a nice little flock by this time, and if you are so good as to write and tell me about them, I hope you will also tell me about yoursllf as we were very much distressed to see that you had been very ill, and knowing how serious your illnesses are we felt very uneasy. Mr. Ferard was here for some time and told us of you, he was very welcome as he both visited and was interested in New Zealand affairs. Is it not queer that just as the English House of Commons is triumphing over Mr. Weld's policy of sending the troops home, he should be fighting with the General about keeping them? You must have been very prudent to keep off hostilities at Hawkes Bay, I trust you may long continue to do so, but Pai Marire seems worse than any previous madness. Do you and the present ministry