Napier March 2nd /60 Sir I wrote to you on my arriving first in Napier addressing the Letter to you in Wellington but I had not then been much in the Country. My principle reason for now writing is from Mr. Cooper informing me that he did not think my services would be much longer required in this Province through the Natives not being willing to sell and the old purchases being nearly all Surveyed. On hearing of which I immediately made up my mind to write to you offering my services for any situation you may think me capable of filling as for how I have done my duty during the time of being here I leave to Messrs Cooper and Fitzgerald to judge I have just returned from surveying kanga a Tawhau Block it contains Five Thousand Five Hundred acres it is a very rough boundary all about the head of the Mohaka I also went up for the purpose of surveying Five Hundred Acres at Puketitiri but the Natives would not allow me to go on with it nor will they allow the Kaweka Block to be surveyed but I have told Mr.Fitzgerald (through his requesting me to do so) the whole particulars about it and he is agoing to send them to you that is that they ask for more money for the Ahuriri and Kanga a Tawhau Blocks also that the Ngatihineuru put in a claim for a portion of both also that they claim a piece of the Kaweka Block they say that it is all Karuraru and that there is no Marama if these claims where settled there is no doubt but that a footing could be made in the Taupo District There wasa Runanga held at the Pa Whakairo a few days back and amongst other things these Lands in question were mentioned and also about the not selling any more Land one suggestion appears was that they should return the One Hundred and Thirty Pounds advanced on the Kaweka and give the Lands to the Runanga but as far as I can learn the end was that if they sold any more Land it should be surveyed before parting with it. Kipa amongst others made a speech the purport of which was that they the Maoris were making themselves slaves to one man and his Tribe that their fore Fathers were able to protect themselves and were capable of judging what they thought good for the interest of themselves and Tribes and that be did not see why they should not be as capable of doing sonow and that he should not give his Lands to the Runanga but should sell when he thought proper he has been telling me all about it this evening I have Natives coming to me from morning to night when I am in Town that say that I have a Whakaaro Marama and honor me with the title of the Kahu o te Rangi the name of a celebrated Ancestor of the Tribe but of course that is only their nonsense. The Traditions of this District are very clear in comparison with the North I have collected a great many, their Traditions of the first Creation also about the Maoris are much better than I ever read or heard of before I will send you all the Originals written by themselves as soon as I have taken a copy of a few of them There is a great deal of talk about Mr. Fitzgerald's doing nothing here I beleive that it is to be brought before the Council he says it's Mr.Cooper's fault but whose even it may be you are the only one who can set it all to rights again you must be charmed for it is always either McLean or Makarini, it appears to me that a Commissioner for such a District as this with the unsettled state of the minds of the natives required to be always with them like a Spirit even present but never in the way so as to gain their full confidence and a thorough knowledge of their thoughts and so become a great neutral guardian and confidant for the several Districts as you are for the whole Islands. I could write much more about what I have heard and seen since being amongst them here but you may think that I am taking too much liberty so I will conclude wishing you health and every happiness. I remain, Sir Your Obedient Servant Saml. Locke To Donald McLean Esqre.J. P. Chief Commissioner P. S. There was a severe Earthquake here this morning between seven and eight o'clock. I have written to you in private regarding what Mr. Cooper said about my not perhaps being required much longer here not knowing the usual official routine.