October 11th, 1860. My dear Sir, Since I was examined yesterday it has occurred to me that the Committee may have some grounds for supposing that I was acting uncourteously to them in detaining Wi Mahi I beg leave to say that I was not aware that he was the bearer of any formal summons to Wiremu Tamihana or that the Committee had determined upon sending any such summons had I known that such was the case I should have communicated to you or some other member of the Committee my opinion that in the present state of affairs it would be highly inexpedient to send Maihi to the Thames, and that I should have arranged as indeed I had already done some other mode of getting Tamihana here. I feel satisfied that Maihi would not have succeeded in bringing him in. You will permit me to observe that I understood it had been arranged that native witnesses should only be summoned through the Native office only and I wish to submit to the committee that unless this rule be adhered to much inconvenience and injury to the public interests may result. I remain, My dear Sir, Yours truly, Donald McLean.