Wellington 3 February, 1872 My dear McLean, I have read. Von's letter to you about Noake - I have not seen the charges against him but I presume they are specific as it would not be right to hold an enquiry into an officer's conduct on mere general charges coming from outsiders and founded on opinion as to discretion etc. Under the circumstances I see no objection to the enquiry being public though as a general rule it is unadvisable and unusual to have such public enquiries - It was wrong in Noake sending the charges to other settlers for their comments - He should have sent them to you with a request either that they might be so referred or that an enquiry might be held when of course he could summon witnesses. I can form no opinion worth giving either one way or another about Noake's discretion, but I think under the difficult circumstances in which he has been placed every allowance should be made for him - and that unless charges of malversation or of gross misconduct have been made it would have been better, if you thought it advisable, for you to have relieved him in the course of official routine by some other office and have transferred him to another district - The investigation now of course should take place. I don't know whether Hirst is one of Noake's accusers, but there are records in the offices which I will direct to be sent to you for your own information showing that Hirst did not behave well in his public capacity. Your work is most arduous and critical, as I knew always it must be, in the settlement of the West Coast that I am sure you will believe in any remarks which I make I only want to assist you in that work - I have scarcely any personal knowledge of Noake, but from what I have seen and heard I think he means well, and I am quite sure that he has been placed in a most embarrassing position. I do not think there there will be any public feeling about Tito Kaoaru if he and his people give up their arms. Yours truly W. Gisborne