Wellington March 5 63 My dear McLean I send you a letter asking information on questions raised by the Natives, amongst whom there exists a strong desire to repudiate past sales. I can't make out such claims as Nepias to the whole Tauperu block is a mystery, but I have no doubt you can make all clear. The Natives here are on the whole quiet enough - the sett. favourable and yet in a funk - What about Akitio - Kelham seems determined to sell - if you wont buy, he would I think be willing to buy you out, previous to putting the run into the market. There are a good many parties on the look out for it, so that there will be no difficulty in finding a purchaser. I certainly should prefer it falling into your hands. You will not be surprised to hear that Strang is awfully smitten with Miss Miller, whose performances he never misses - The "shake" seems to have been felt at almost every place more severely than here - and was very long - but at the same time gentle. If they confine themselves to occasionally smashing a few chimnies - they won't be regarded as such great calamities as they are reprerented by some. Have you ever heard from old Herewanu about the Manawatu block - They still talk extravagantly - so many shillings per acre - I fancy John Mason is the main impediment. I would not mind giving from 9000 to 12000 - when does your Council meet? What an ass Colenzo has made of himself - Charlie desires me to tell you that the Pony arrived last week, and that he will be eternally grateful. Poor "Peina" as they have named it, will have no sinecure - as he seems regarded as common property - I am off to Wanganui for a day or two. There is a quarrel bewteen the Putiki and Waitotera Natives which I fear will delay the completion of the Waitotera purchase. They have reduced both their price and reserves, and some are ready to sell the Kai Iwi block. Yours faithfully I. E. Featherston