Otorohanga Jany 29th/70 Donald McLean Esqr Dear Sir I beg to state for your information of my proceedings with Manuhiri in the regard to the cash affair, On my arrival at home I went up the next day and gave Manuhiri the Cheque for £200. he did not make many remarks at that time, some time afterwards I had occasion to go up to the Kuiti with your messages when on my return he gave me the Cheque to take to the Bank at Ngaruawahia to get it cashed, which I did on my return to the Kuiti to Manuhiri he would not take the Cash, told me to take it back to my house & put it bye until I had further orders from himself it appears one of his reasons for this step is that reports were about that he was receiving money for Rent & that some of the tribes were coming to have a talk about that he was the man to prohibit all Rents sales & of Land & that he would be the first to take money for the same, so I have at present the Cash in my possession but the cause he gave me was this, he states that at first when the Land was let to rent it was given to Dr. Purchase just a verbal agreement between their two selves the terms was one Hundred Pounds per year rent for the Land te Pukapuka & the term of time was he thinks fourteen years & he received from Dr Purchase the sum of Fifty Pounds & he has never heard anything more of it nor as he had any information from Dr Purchase, he wants to know by whose authority the first Tenant was turned of the Land, he thinks that it was in the year 61 or 62, also he states that there was another parcel of Land at Mangore the contents were one Acre & let to a man by name of Hone Kuti, I suppose it must be John Couts. now he has never heard that any more of it, the terms were he thinks one Pound per Acre for five or six years & all under the direction of Dr Purchas & this is his reason why he would not take the money until he had heard more of the particulars about the whole affair & who was it that turned the first tenant of, I explained all to him what conversation I had with yourself & Dr Pollen but my opinion is this, it was the talk of the natives & it is reported that the Mokau mob are expected soon upon the same subject, but I must beg to remark that there as been a great many Letters coming from Mr C.O. Davis of late but I am not aware that he has at all interfered, he Manuhiri made this remark that a great many of his staunch Friends often spoke to him about his Land but with no other results, but when he gets an answer to his letter on the subject he will be satisfied, I do not know to whom he has written to for the information. Dear Sir I beg to state that myself & Te Whehoro returned yesterday from the Kuiti & while there my Boy arrived with your Telegram & also the report of the escape of the Kooti, it caused a great excitement among the people, but I did not exactly admire the remarks of Manuhiri he puts all the blame on the part of the Government, & I think that if the Kooti was to come there for shelter he would get it, but te Whehoro will tell you all on his return the people at the Aotearoa would not let Marino & his party pass on so he had to come back I saw him yesterday at the Kuiti he was going by way of Taupo after Topia I have Marino letters for Colnl McDonnel & Topia stating the reason of his non appearance after been deceived by Te Woru I beg to state that I have been attentive to your orders in collecting all information I have of late sent it through the hands of Mr Pitt in haste Mr Searancke is just leaving Alexandra I beg to Remain Yours Obedient Louis Hetet