H.—3l

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Enclosure 8 in No. 1. The Hon. H. R. Russell to Mr. S. Locke. Mt deae Sic, — Mount Herbert, 15th January, 1868. I am alarmed to hear that Birch and Johnston are making preparations to take possession of the Patea, west of the Rangitikei, which is what Hector described as the cream of the whole country, and which we ought to have had. lam also disappointed to hear that you have not been to the interior yet. The distance is not much, and your personal presence and influence would have done much to counteract the workings of our rivals. I have a messenger at Wanganui now to know what Buller has done, and if he is prepared to go back and meet Cox and me in the end of the month. I hear Hamlin has gone up a second time, but it is not like your going yourself. lam now very much afraid we shall be beaten, or at all events deprived of a good portion of our intended runs. I have been all along relying on your activity and influence, which induced me to recommend you to our party in the first instance as negotiator. I now wish I had gone up with you myself, and kept you to the mark till the thing was secured. Cox's visit was a mere farce. I hope your assurances in the letter of the 6th, and on previous occasions, will turn out correct, but I am very desponding. Tours in haste, S. Locke, Esq. H. R. Russell. Write me per Mr. Davis on Saturday.

Enclosure 9 in No. 1. The Hon. H. R. Russell to Mr. S. Locke. Mt deae Locke,— 2nd February, 1868. Mr. Davis tells me you start on Tuesday for Taupo. I have not a syllable from any one to say what you have been able to do, but I hope our prospects now look somewhat brighter. Cox has gone on to his own place, and Whitmore writes me he will wait for me till Tuesday morning ; but I have had a little return of the diarrhoea from which I was suffering, and can't think of leaving home now until Wednesday. If I continue better I propose, however, to be at Havelock on Wednesday night; to tho Club to breakfast on Thursday ; do some business iv Napier in the forenoon; aud to Rissiugton that night, starting for Taupo on Friday morning. Mr. Davis and a Maori will accompany me with a tent, pack-horse, and spare saddle-horses, as I intend to do the thing well and comfortably, and not be hurried or starved. Leave word where I shall find you. I have told Whitmore to do the same. Tours in haste, H. R. Russell.

Enclosure 10 in No. 1. The Hon. H. R. Russell and the Hon. Colonel Whitmoee to Mr. S. Locke. Mt deae Locke, — Waipukurau, 18th March, 1868." We find that Messrs. Donnelly and Shaw are endeavouring to get a run near our block, and believe it to be that next Birch, to the westward. They are employing the man (Williams) who got Birch his run, and who remains there, as also does young Donnelly. Under these circumstances we think it desirable that you should be made aware of the risk we think we are running of losing that piece like Birch's, and to urge you to take some further steps to secure the land still left. Directly you have concluded, we wish you to let us know when Melville Smith and a few hundred wethers may be sent up to take possession, and try the winter. Sincerely yours, G. S. Whitmoee. H. R. Russell.

Enclosure 11 in No. 1. The Hon. H. R. Russell to Mr. S. Locke. Mt deae Sic, — Wellington, 3rd August, 1868. I communicated your telegram to Mr. Cox, and he wishes you to make a full report of what was done by yourself and Mr. Hamlin in the matter of the company's proposed runs. Be so good, therefore, as to send this by return of first steamer, and the matter shall have immediate consideration. Tours truly, S. Locke, Esq., Napier. H. B. Russell. P.S. —About Purotanghia, I am not satisfied to take Monaeena's obligation for the expense of the surveys, as there are other parties interested. I shall see Tareha, whose people are claimants and likely to get a good slice, and if he agrees to reimburse the expense, I shall authorize the survey to be made, on condition that it shall be paid out of future rents, and not from the past or current year. The station has hitherto been nothing but a loss.