Fourteen letters written by William Colenso to Dr Frederic de Lisle and Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, a letter written by Mrs Florence Le Lievre, and a typed summary of the letters:

a) A letter written by William Colenso to Dr Frederic de Lisle and Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, addressed and dated Dannevirke, 28 December 1896. The letter concerns William Colenso's return from three weeks in the Bush. He also makes reference to the birth of de Lisle's son and the request for him to provide a pretty Māori name for the infant. William Colenso declines the request to act as Godfather. He also mentions his ill heath. The letter is accompanied by an envelope as follows:

b) An envelope, addressed: Dr F I de Lisle, Tennyson Street, Napier. There is a purple two pence postage stamp, postmarked Dannevirke, 29 December 1896.

c) A letter written by William Colenso to Dr Frederic de Lisle and Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, addressed and dated Napier, Friday 5 August 1897. William Colenso states in the letter that he is suffering from ill health and will be unable to visit them and their son, Rodolph Maia de Lisle.

d) A letter written by William Colenso to Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, addressed and dated Napier, 1 September 1897. The letter concerns Dr Frederic de Lisle's recent illness. William Colenso also writes about his own ill health, weak knees, arm and hand.

e) A letter written by William Colenso to Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, addressed and dated Napier, Monday 16 (possibly September 1897). The letter concerns Dr Frederic de Lisle's and William Colenso's ill health.

f) A letter written by William Colenso to Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, addressed and dated Napier, 27 September 1897. The letter concerns a gift for William Colenso's godson, Rodolph Maia de Lisle.

g) A letter written by William Colenso to Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, addressed and dated Napier, 23 December 1897. The letter concerns a gift of 1 guinea for William Colenso's godson, Rodolph Maia de Lisle's, birthday.

h) A letter written by William Colenso to Dr Frederic de Lisle, addressed and dated Napier, 23 December 1897. The letter welcomes Dr Frederic de Lisle home. The letter is accompanied by an envelop as follows:

i) An envelope, addressed: Dr F I de Lisle, Tennyson Street, Napier. There is a red one penny postage stamp, postmarked Napier, 23 December 1897.

j) A letter written by William Colenso to Dr Frederic de Lisle and Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, dated Sunday 24 January 1897. The letter concerns Dr Frederic de Lisle's accident.

k) A letter written by William Colenso to Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, addressed and dated Napier, 8 March 1898. The letter concerns: Rodolph Maia de Lisle's Christening twelve months ago at the Cathedral; trap drivers having dinner at XII unless they are paid extra to wait; reasons for not paying the de Lisle family a visit; and rejoicing in good weather. William Colenso also states that he is in better health.

l) A letter written by William Colenso to Dr Frederic de Lisle and Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, addressed and dated Gow's Hotel, Waipukurau, 9 May 1898. The letter concerns William Colenso's extended visit to the bush district, which included church work. He also notes that he married a young couple, a task he hadn't performed since 1852.

m) A letter written by William Colenso to Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, addressed and dated Napier, 4 June 1898. In the letter, William Colenso states that he is back from the bush and hopes to visit the family soon.

n) A letter written by William Colenso to Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, addressed and dated Napier, Monday 5 December 1898. The letter concerns William Colenso meeting Dr Frederic de Lisle and his masterly skill, the earthquake and fire in White Road, and stronger tremors in Gisborne. The letter is accompanied by an envelope as follows:

o) An envelope, addressed: Mrs de Lisle, Ahititi, Waimata, Gisbourne [sic].

p) A letter written by William Colenso to Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle, addressed and dated Napier, 26 December 1898. The letter concerns Christmas in summertime without the winter fare of home and writing a letter to the Editor of the Daily Telegraph. The letter also contains a poem about animals for Rodolph Maia de Lisle. The letter is accompanied by an envelop as follows:

q) An envelope, addressed: Mrs de Lisle, Ahititi, Waimata, Gisborne.

r) A letter written by William Colenso to Dr Frederic de Lisle, addressed and dated Wednesday evening (1897). In the letter, William Colenso states that he went to the Deanery but all of the blinds were tightly drawn. The letter was possibly written around the time of Dean Hovell's death.

s) A letter written by Mrs Florence Le Lievre to Miss Hall, addressed and dated Windermere Farm, Whakatane, 5 September (1967). The letter concerns finding a further letter by William Colenso thought to have been written around the time of Dean Hovell's death.

t) A typed summary of William Colenso's letters to Dr Frederic de Lisle and Mrs Margaret Tressa de Lisle.