Poor Cooper is in a deuce of a mess - He owes old Read of Povt.Bay £1500 and his debts at Wellington are very heavy. He is trying to get Read to take the Poverty Bay (Coopers) Station and Sheep in payment for his debt to him - I fancy Run and Sheep are worth about £800 - If Read will do this he can settle with his Wellington creditors who will take £200 a year out of his pay for 6 years which will be about 10/-in the Pound on what he owes. If Read will not take the Station for Cooper's debt He has no choice but go through the Bankruptcy Court, and then Read will not get the half of what he is now offered. Cooper has been silly enough to threaten Read about some Scab question and the old man is naturally angry - but I scarcely think he wd. like to ruin Cooper - and moreover there is nothing but loss to be got by doing so - If you call at Poverty Bay talk please with Read about this and get him to agree.