Otaika, Whangarei 8th. June 1857. My dear McLean, You will be glad to hear that the Kauri hohore and the Parahaki Block have been paid for, and all details satisfactorily arranged with the claimants for £750 --- so that I have done something at last this year --- by this the aristocratic settlement at the head of the river has acquired an extension of 9271 acres. The Whareora Block is the furthest back and belongs to the Nga Nguru district. I have no doubt but that the claimants will accept our terms --- and intend to go to Nga Nguru as soon as the country is passable. We have had the most awful gales of wind and rain that I ever experienced. The Survey Tents were pitched at my place and were blown down and fearfully mangled. Sinclairs being rather the worse for wear before is now knocked to ribbons and I would be obliged if you would tell him so --- that when he comes back he may bring a new one --- or new stuff at least as the poles will do. I had plenty of work for Sinclair to go on with --- but he was quite done up for stores, clothing etc. --- so he went up to Town --- he might as well make the plans of Kauri hohore Parahoki and Whareora --- for the former two being completed the deeds will be sent by the next opportunity and you can hand them over to the province, which no doubt they will be glad to have --- the Kauri hohore which cost £550 will cut up into farms and realize £3000 if there is any demand for Land. The acreage of the surveys here this summer is small being 20,000 but the positions are all most important to secune --- being the land at in demand the value of which is more apparent to the Natives than that of the further back country --- and embraces a ehain of country extending from Sir O. Gibbes estate to the heads. Old Munro was up with me --- he is intent on the point in the harbour --- opposite Parua --- it is a most ticklish place to settle with the natives about and I am determined not to make a false step --- even though my not doing so will keep a --- particularly as no public good will result, unless giving Munro a very valuable property on easy terms be considered a public good. The rest of the block might do for other purposes but it does not suit the N.S. and I know that the rest of the people will not locate upon it. They cannot get the part which would suit them --- being the Native settlement at Parua. To suppose the Natives will leave their homes to suit their convenience is quite absurd. This is my opinion --- but on the former point I may be mistaken. The M. Karamea has been subdivided by Mr. Wilson in a most judicious manner it will realize £5000. I have been out a fortnight in the woods and mountain ranges with Lusk's party --- cutting the line between RuaRangi Mate Block and Waipu. It is done and a very stiff business it was at this season of the year. We encountered very great hardships. I made my way through to Waipu and returned home by sea --- it was like making our way over several hundred gigantic barricades --- in fact eight miles incessant climbing. The very animals were savage in such a country --- a ferocious wild boar attacked one of our party --- who managed to despatch him after a desperate encounter --- fortunately he was carrying my gun which no doubt saved his life. I was close by, qand had I been assaulted you would have had a vacancy in the department --- for I had only a little tomma hawk in my hand and the animal gave no opportunity of bolting. Mate's Block will now be easily finished as the two sides are finished --- with a small exception, and the front and Native reserves are all that are now to survey. In due course of time I will have a schedule of further land offered by the Natives to submit for approval and authority to survey. My visit to Nga Nguru will doubtless bring something forth. Yours very truly, John Grant Johnson.