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English (ATL)

Feb 1868 (?)

Friday Mg.
My Dear Sir,

I am much obliged to you for Dr. Hector's Geologl. report, it has interested me much, -- I am sure I scarcely know how to thank you for your very kind remembrance of me.

I think you are ''about right'' (as the Americans say) in speaking of this being our driest season in H. Bay, more than once of late I have thought, whether the burning off all the rank indigenous herbage -- and so much of small bush and forest which once covered our grounds and tended to keep the earth damp (and in many places wet all the summer through) has anything to do with it. Moisture below attracts moisture from above, and it is well known that trees and plants do. so.

Two things I heard of yesterday -- that Sir George Bowen had arrived in Wellington, and that Dr. Selwyn had accepted Lichfield see.

I hope to send you a few Peaches with this -- if the winds have spared any.

Could you fix some day next week when I could see you in your office. I have been long waiting, but without wishing to intrude, or to step in before another whose business may be more important; any day shall suit me.

I am, My Dear Sir,
Yours truly,
W. Colenso
P. S. I don't think there can be much real analogy between our floods and droughts -- and those of Australia; the difference of latitude, of size of countries, of interior (as far as is known) etc. etc. -- would bar all such; still (as you observe) there is the apparent one. W. C.
Did you notice in ''Independent'' of 4th (which I saw at Spit,) how different they had the wind at Wellington on Sunday and Monday last? and while the Bar. there indicated a gale such fell not at Wgn. -- W. C.