Wellington, 2 Feby., 1855. My dear MacLean, Cooper and I have seen Park about Section 84. I at first thought the piece was Excessive, and some depreciation in the value has taken place by the Earthquake or rather wd. have been found to have taken place if the section had still been put up to auction. Park however is of opinion that the amount asked is not unreasonable; and there are 26 acres of a section within a few chains off, which W. Watt is asking £10 an acre for. Mr. Maxwell's Section (but I dont know how the sawyers have dealt with it) some very valuable totara timber on it, and it is certain that the soil is very good. Even h higher up you could not get a well totara-timbered section under from £5 to £7 an acre. I quite agree with you as to the desirability of Govt. coming forward to assist Taringaturi in the proposed purchase; and if I had money available would gladly concur in the responsibility of making some advance. But, as you know, the small fund I have in hand is almost wholly taken up with your own reserved sum, and as I told you yesterday if the people had bought any land lately every shilling of available cash would have been placed at your disposal. As it is I am keeping no more in hand than is unavoidable to carry me over the next couple of months, during which owing to the Earthquakes it is most improbable any purchases will be made, and were I to divest my treasury of every thing I should at the same time have to put an immediate stop to all the surveys. But it appears to me so really essential to run no risk about Taringakuris people going to Taranaki, that if you can possibly spare out of your fund in my treasury what would be required for a first instalment I believe you would be doing a great benefit by applying it to this purchase; and if my official concurrence or recommendation would be of any service to you, I should be most glad to give it. Believe me, Very truly yours, F. D. Bell. D. McLean, Esq., Commissr.