Taranaki 30th. October 1856. My dear McLean, The steamer set all the conjectures regarding her, at rest, last night. Bell came ashore this morning, and I have had a long korero with him on various matters. I was introduced by him to Mr. Stafford, who appears to be a nice gentlemanly man, and cute, to boot. Mr. Chilman's case comes off to-morrow, and I have been summoned. The previous one was Waitana's; and the little evidence I then gave had reference chiefly to it. I had no need then to enquire into the other, for know that it might not be disposed of, like other land claims, But Mr. Chilman, for reasons best known to himself, has preferred another tribunal for this particular claim; and to-morrow I shall give evidence. He dislikes, perhaps fears me as a Judge; and he will have me as a witness. The interval has enabled me to look into Company's papers, and I am happy to find that the Commission under which you acted, and Mr. Wicksteed wrote, is fully borne out by the documentary evidence I shall submit to the Committee tomorrow, I observe, in this remarkable case, --- remarkable for the little inducements it appears to offer --- (?) --- a continued attempt from the suburban land (part of which was afterwards exchanged into the Belt), was purchased in the name of Mary Chilman, (now wife of Mr. Thomas King, (Chairman of the present Committee), to get certain drawbacks in the purchase money, not claimable by Mr. Chilman in his own name. Secondly, --- Whilst all the other settlers got of Bell and Park land surrendered to the natives, Mr. Chilman, (a clerk in the Land Office at the time) received Thirdly, --- Not satisfied with this, Mr. Wicksteed was induced to recommend to the Directors of the New Zealand Company, through Colonel Wakefield, that a should be allowed to Mr. Chilman, in consequence of the circumstance of restitution. This, being of course in addition to the allowances already made to Miss Chilman. Both drawbacks being on the payable as the original price of the land. Fourthly, --- When the landowners refused their claims for compensation under the agreement of May 1849, Mr. Chilman induced the Committee to recommend his for special arrangement, with two others. And my Report to Mr. Fox, who left these claims unconditionally to me, --- placed these claims in their proper class; and they were compensated like the rest they resembled. Fifthly, --- After an interval, not of seven years, but of fourteen, Mr. Chilman prefers a claim to swamp land; on the plea, not of his being entitled to it in exchange, but that it was measured in with the good land. In fact, that the good land was not of itself sufficient compensation, unless some bad land was thrown in! But the oral and written evidences contradict this. There is a worse witness than I have at command against this claim, in the shape of an illiterate man, by name Mogridge, who, under a written agreement, witnessed by barriball, and I understand in Mr. Chilman's handwriting, sold all his to him. Whether this evidence is forthcoming to-morrow, I know not. Attempts have been made by Messrs. King and Chilman, to get other cases against you. But I have asked Mr. Parris not to allow them, or any of them to be gone into, without calling for me as the head of the Office. Mr. O. Carrington has been, I understand, busy in volunteering evidence and insinuations against you. But rest assured that the little traitorous man is whatched, and shall state nothing but the truth uncontradicted by me. I am quite --- (?) that you should be subject to these paltry accusations of empty nothings; --- that our "Government" should so lose sight of the main chance, if for no other reason, as to quarrel needlessly with the man who of all others can help us in our extremities, and has done so. It is a knocking of one's head against a wall, people do not unfrequently indulge in in their desperation; and I hope and believe that with a fresh change of men in prospect, the old relations with you will be resumed. Dr. Wilson tells me, and I have heard it from others, that a requisition as Superintendent is likely to be addressed to Mr. Flight, with whom you will be glad to learn he is reconciled. The feeling is, I understand, partly occasioned by the Superintendent's own folly in attempting to crush Mr. Flight; and a desire in the people for change of any kind. The Honorable, the Speaker, Mr. Watt, has imitated Herod by appointing Mr. Pheney to the Council, --- a complete job, inasmuch as it is a premium at the cost of the Province in its Press; for it is notorious from the commencement that whilst every family in the place contributes to the maintenance of this man as Editor, that he tricks public suspicion, and carries on the newspaper simply in the Brown support. You will have heard of the result of the election for the Grey and Bell. The Superintendent felt his ground, and finding there was no chance for him, put forth Mr. Pheney, who was ignominiously defeated by a coarse vulgar Yorkshireman; who will be poor company for the select minds of the Assembly. But this election of a member indicates the public feeling. I do not know what Mr. Richmond's views are in regard to our Provincial matters, --- that is, his present views, --- for I have had a long conversation with him on my relations with the Superintendent, and the proposed junction of Offices; and there was no real difference of views. He is very honest in all things, and becomes unwittingly the cats-paw of schemers. So he believed in the sincerity of Charles Brown's proposal of combination of Offices, because Charles Brown had told him (Richmond) that if I did not accept, it would be offered to Flight. Of course Richmond did not see that Brown was merely throwing dust in his eyes. I understand that several Memorials (I saw with several signatures attached) have been addressed to the Governor against the junction, from the people. But I am forgeting to tell you that H.H. the Superintendent has given us all notice that if the Council do not make provision for us, and still refuse his proposals, that our services will not be required after the end of this year. The notice of course occasioned considerable excitement, for every one is more or less interested in the Land Claims; and a report was industriously circulated by the Superintendent that the notice was a mere matter of and was really designed to act as a sorew (?) on the General Government in letting the Governor see that the Provincial Government of New Plymouth, in the person of its Superintendent, was a man not to be opposed in his plans. But some of the Council kick against this mode of carrying their point. They say a majority carried your proposal; though the Superintendent says we have not thought fit to do so. Fox will not have the Office closed, or the Governor influenced by an improper view of the question; and so the matter rests at present. The feeling of us Officials is in favour of taking the Superintendent in the literal terms of his notice, and cutting an unthankful and ill-paid service. The Province will suffer, but it is for the Province to bring our Superintendent to account, for causing it to suffer in its public affairs. Excuse my hasty style. You may do as you please with my letter. Read all, and give my name, if necessary. Yours very truly (Signed) W. Halse. P.S. Thank Rogan for his last letters. I cannot write by the steamer. Tell him the "Wyvern" from Nelson to Sydney is supposed to be lost, and amongst the passengers was Fordham.