[Sept. 1855] Whangaroa. My Dear Sir, I am anxious to hear from you relative to Karioi, as several natives have told me lately that the money I offered will be accepted, should you decide in my favour ---I find in almost every instance when instalments have been paid that they are the most difficult people to deal with, particularly the Ngati Mahanga tribe and the most I can say for them is that they acknowledge the receipt of the money Wiremu's party have but one more block of land to be surveyed, which being a dense forest, and as food is deficient they do not intend traversing the boundaries until next summer. Wiremu and I are good friends and he was the only one of the party willing to accept the £300 --- but his eagerness to induce me to promise £700 exceeded all the rest and behind my back he was a tangata Maori. They natives of this district generally do not approve of the day light system I pursue in surveying the land first and offering payment afterwards, but rather prefer the mode of going to Auckland and I might say obtaining money under false pretenses - MacInnes and I are living at Hakopa's which is the most central position, he is quite well and happy, his foot is not healed yet and he will not be able to follow me in the field for some time to come - The Natives raised some story about him and a native girl, but as far as I know, the fault if any was more on the part of the native lady, he is remarkably quiet here and I like him very much indeed he is kept close at work lately calculating geometrical and trigonometrical figures preparatory to field instruction, but I find him exceedingly slow and more backward in these matters than I had reason to expect from his having been for a time with a surveyor at home, he is however willing to learn, and I think the practical part will come easier to him than the theoretical. Wiremu Nero and Hakopa wish me to say that they are most anxious to buy 100 acres of land joining Gilmour's property near Dewy's 80 acres, so as to include an old cultivation called Pukekawa - Wiremu says you promised to buy it for him without charge and Hakopa expects to pay for it however you will know the circumstances of the case best. I should be sorry to guarantee the (page torn) I consider I have succeeded in every respect here with the natives, except satisfying their ideas as to the value of their land and should you approve of my offers to them, my course will be quite clear for the future. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain, My Dear Sir, Faithfully yours, J. Rogan. I offered to survey the 100 acres for them should you purchase it they finding the necessary labour. Donald McLean, Esquire, Auckland.