Turanga 22nd. November, 1866. D. McLean Esq., Napier. My dear Sir, Yours of 6 Inst. reached me a few days since. I regret much as well as the other settlers of our district that our annexation scheme should have proved abortive. We all appreciate your efforts in that and other matters and you will see by the accompanying native letter that they also are alive to the steps you have taken. I enclose copy of one they have sent to His Excellency really it is time something was done to settle this district - we shall drift into a worse muddle than ever, if things are allowed much longer to progress or rather retrograde in the way they are doing. It is no flattery to you to S you and no one else possess the confidence of the greater portion of our natives. Still there are influences at work to destroy that confidence. Rice is doing all he can to get you in disrepate with the Natives. Whittaker must have little good feeling to employ such a character. I am sorry to say old Lazarus is again shewing his Openly impugns the propriety of sending the people to Whare Kaure and says he will not give up one inch of his land. It would be a good deed to send the old sinner on a visit to his Chatham friends. You will also see name attached to the documents. He ought not to be here. If you recollect the man was left at the request of Henry Potai with the express understanding he was not to be allowed to return to Turanga. I really think it would be a good policy to send both him and Lazarous after their fellows. The way in which you carried out your opperations against the HauHaus on 12th. Oct. and the subsequent proceedings is most creditable to your Government had our war from the first been prosecuted with any thing like the energy displayed by you we should long since have seen the last of our troubles procrastination should be the motto of our General Governments - in fact of all in the Colony except your own. Not knowing the proper etiquette I send you copies of native letters to Sir Gerorge and our own memorial. You can send copies to Wood if you think it advisable. I will write him that I have done so. I As/before wrote you leaving and sitting still goes on - parties receive money on A/c that have no real right to do so even were the claims all settled. We shall be most happy to see you here at your earliest convenience nevertheless I should regret your coming were you not in a position to tell the natives something tangible as to how their matters are to be settled. This putting off from time to time is but making matters worse. With best wishes believe me ever friendly and Faithfully J. W. Harris. You will see the letters are entirely got up by the natives without European interferences. The wish also to know whether it would be advisable to send a second Petition to the Govt. praying for annexation your Hawkes Bay.