Auckland Oct. 7th 1870 My dear Mr McLean I received your note of the 3rd Inst. by the Phoebe and before I touch on any other subject I will answer your questions. 1st. You will have received an official on this subject before this - 2ndly. are very well disposed and I have every reason to be satisfied with their behaviour and general temper. There is old fathers application it is giving him some anxiety - and I shall be glad if you will settle it one way or another - My brother Marsden is also anxious for employment under you - Very faithfully yours Hy.T. Clarke one subject in particular which has rather annoyed some of them in reference to the Telegraph - the destruction of some of their forest land is gauling to the Ngatipikiao and it was only by making a promise to them that the question of compensation should be submitted to the Government that the wanton destruction was allowed to continue. I hope you will consider favorably the application I have made officially. I feel that the honor of the Government as well as my own is at stake - We must keep the Arawa employed in reproductive works, or they will grow restless. We shall never get them to go out fighting on the lump sum system, and perhaps it is as well that they should not. They have a great idea of themselves, and I think it will do them good to see that we can get other tribes to fight on the lump sum system. I have just got a note from M Gill who is clearing off old liabilities - he writes very despondingly the amount of confusion and the inextricable state of the accounts is dreadful. He suggests that McDonnell should be called upon to give an account of his own engagements - I cannot meet any of them in their present shape, and if the natives abuse me for it I cannot help it. I must beg of the Government to support me. has effected nothing - they did not expect to do anything. The Chiefs who were the bearers of the invitation from Waikato were subjected to a stiff examination by the Arawas - they were asked whether the invitation of the Waikato to the Arawa was intended as a part of the Maungarongo set on foot by yourself. They replied that it was not - that it was a purely native matter - ''the right hand to the right and the left to the left''. The Arawa Chiefs then turned to Petera and the party who were going and said ''there is no object in your going, had it been a continuation of the Maungarongo by Mr. McLean it would be well - we cannot be separated from our parent'' - I understand from Hetit, who saw the Arawas at the Kuiti that there was little else than feasting and dancing - However I shall get a good report from Rewi Tereanukei which shall be sent you. I send you by this opportunity a report of my interview with the Ngatitahu respecting the telegraph - I have just received a letter from Henare Te Pukuatua stating that he was just off for Orekei - Korako. Dr. Pollen tells me that he has received a private note from Mr.Ormond in which he says that he is about sending up Mr. Locke to see after the matter. I think we should be careful to be at one about the telegraph and not create complications through ignorance of each others propositions and negotiations. I made arangements with Te Pokeha about a bit of land at Maketu for station - I have taken an allotment for which we shall have to pay £10 per annum - rather high, but it is less than other Europeans are paying - £12.10 - and £15 are the usual charges - Te Whenuanui is out at Whakatane - I shall get Mair's report by next Tauranga. There is still great mortality amongst the Urewera - Tamaikowha has had an interview with the Arawas at Ohewa - he seems to be very independent and off-hand in his proceedings. You need not delay a moment any proceedings you may please to make against Te Kooti. I will write to the Arawas telling them to discontinue their prodeedings with the Urewera - I am quite sure that they have had lots of time allowed them. I think there is little doubt that he is still at Te Wera in the neighbourhood of Upper Waioeka - I am sorry to say that Gilbert Mair is very unwell the exposure to which he has been subjected this winter has made him very ill - he has had a bad cough for nearly three months, and I am afraid it is working mischief - He was very unwell when I was at Keuteriria but determined to be about He has been obliged to come to Tauranga for medical advice - Have you been able to do anything in my poor