FL4651318

25 May 1881

Dear Onslow

Here I am at this late
date listening to a debate on
a Land Tax Bill in the Council
while a debate on the Reform
Bill (so called) is going on or
to go on. I am therefore
without any means of knowing
whether or when I can start
for N Zealand.

If the Houses had risen I
would have tried to catch the
Wakatipu which is to sail
from Sydney on 31st May,

That I fear is quite out
of the question now. The
next chance will be on the
16 June by the Panama Mail
steamer from Sydney to Auckland.

But even that chance
may be lost by the protracted
sitting of the House.