Bay of Islands May 20th 1819
Revd & Dear Sir
	I am just returned from the Timber ground about 20 miles from our settlement where I have been assisting to procure the Actives Cargo. She is laying there taking it in,— the Ship Rambler is just leaving the Bay for England. I beg you will excuse this hasty note,— I have with pleasure to inform you that my work is all going on well at N. Zealand. I have taught six pair of sawyers to saw Timber. I have frequently four or five p[air at work at once. I have sent about 4000 feet of 3 inch planks 12 Inches deep to port jackson to be disposed of by Mr Marsxden in order to assist in defraying the expences of the Active, all sawn by the Natives under my instructions— [f] I have also a quantity of Land in cultivation more than sufficient to support my family the year round with wheat, and I mean to distribute wheat amongst the Natives with suitable en couragement and instrructrions how to cultivate it, and I hope it will be attended with the blessing of God, both for their present and future good.— It is with pleasure I have to inform you that I have received your kind and instructive letters with the Tools &c.— We are frequently too shortly supplied with trade on account of the delays the Active makes at Otaheite and elsewhere, but I have sometimes been favoured with an opportunity for supporting my work with a little Trade by parting with a few potatoes &c that I have to spare at certain times— and my work succeeds in consequence of it. I am sorry to add there is no School at present, or has been none these six months for the want of Trade to support it with— [f] But I do not mean to let my business fail for defects of this kind, so long as I have any means of promoting its success,— at the same time anxiously looking for that happy period when the Lord will crown all the labours of his faithful Servants with success, and glorify his own name in the Salvation of the Heathen.
Mrs H[all] joins in best Love to Mrs Pratt and I have the honour to be
Revd & Dear Sir
Your unworthy Servt
And labourer
Wm Hall
P.S. I have had an accident by fire which has burnt all my workshops and Barn with a quantity of Wheat and a great part of my Tools. I will be glad if you can send me a brace and bits and a Turkey Stone