Private. Tauranga, March 11th, 1872 My dear Mr McLean I hear that the "Keera" is expected from Auckland tomorrow on her way south - As I have a busy day before me I must write tonight if I am to write to you at all - We are quite quiet now. But I was a little anxious at one time - I would not trouble you about the matters to which I allude at the time - knowing how much you have upon your mind and I was glad I pursued that course - as there was no necessity to report the cases till the trouble had been surmounted - I cannot conceal from myself the fact that we are by our energetic pushing forward of our Public Works in every possible direction exciting the attention of the Ultra Waikato party. Hunia te Ngakau was without doubt sent by Manuhiri and Manga to Tauranga during my last visit to Wellington - The Ngaiterangi Chiefs spoke so plainly and to the purpose that Hunia returned to his companions rather crest fallen. There is also no doubting the fact that Hunia and his companions were sent to Niho o te Kiore by Manga and the meeting was decidedly stormy Hunia lost his temper and used language anything but pacific - Our allies were moderate but firm in their replies - And I believe the present Kuiti meeting has been called to consider the present position of the King party - All these matters have tended to excite our district Hauhaus - and I was sorry that our Surveyor should have gone on to the very spot to re erect a trig station (without first coming to let me know) which was the cause of our Rupture with the pirirakau in 1866 and 67. The first I heard of the matter was from the Surveyor himself who came to say that the hauhaus had threatened to destroy the Station - The Station was destroyed - I felt we were committed as I have made it a point of honor to maintain inviolate our Confiscated boundary line - I wrote a strong letter to the Pirirakau on the subject and ordered the Station to be built up again - it has been done and still stands. Now if they had come to me at first I should have told the Surveyor to desist for the present, as the triangulation at this juncture is of secondary importance compared with the maintenance of good relations - Although we have carried our point still it has chafed the old sore - and will retard our efforts to break down the prejudices of the Hauhaus to allow roads to be made through their country. The second difficulty to which I alluded was the carrying forward the road to Katikati, through our own land. In this I was quite "marama" - As I was unable to go myself I sent Hori Ngatai and Enoka - They as sellers of the land to the Government could speak and act decisively in their own way and they have told me since that they were glad I was not with them. As it was it became a question of their "mama" as leading Chiefs of Tauranga - and on that ground they insisted and carried out my wishes - They deserve great credit and are entitled to the consideration of the Government - and as contrasted with the actions of some Chiefs who are receiving higher pay I may one day bring the matter officially under your notice - I wish the Government would find some other R. N. than me for this District - It takes up so very much of my time and makes the work laborious. Why not make Roberts R. M.? I shall always assist in difficult cases,andwould help him to get his hand in? I feel that I ought to be more at liberty -I had to travel from Ohinemutu to Tauranga one Saturday night so as to be here to do my R. M. duties on Monday - This very day I have been on the Bench the whole day - and shall do the same tomorrow - Ngatimanawa - Te Waru and a lot of Tauranga natives have been kept waiting all day to speak to me on other business - they will in all probability be kept tomorrow but how can I help it - Do not think I am trying to make out a case - I am not afraid of work but I can only do an ordinary mans share. I hope you will will kindly take this into your consideration. I must close this hurried line. Do not be afraid but that I will keep district quiet if you will only untie my hands and feet. Yours very faithfully Hy. T.Clarke