Letter from J. Rogan, to Donald McLean. Esq. J.P. Land Commissioner. dated 9th. June 1854. New Plymouth 9th. June 1854. My dear Sir, I wrote a hurried letter to you after I reached town, but was unable to reply to your official letter then, as the mail left. I have done so by this post, and trust you will see my case in the same light as I take it. The first thing was to see Norris, who was glad to see me back. I told him it was probable I should leave him for a time, perhaps altogether; and I intended writing to you by last mail, (but was too late) seeking employment at a salary of £300 a year. He released me from our engagement, and has given me his surveying and plandrawing when I am otherwise disengaged; and should you not think me worth the sum I ask, I have the opportunity of returning again if I like. The Superintendent appointed a time to meet me at his office; and after the usual preliminaries, told me you wrote to him at Mokau, saying I was prepared to accept £200. I said if you had written so, I did not explain myself to you properly, because I could enter into no arrangement till I saw Norris. He said he would produce your letter, and shew that I had offered myself at £200.I told him I had written asking you for £300, and my charge was a guinea for occasional work. He intimated that I was taking advantage of the Government; and if I did not accept his offer, it was probable the Government would not employ me at all. That he would recommend me to you for £300 as Sub-Land Commissioner for Taranaki, if I gave way to him, etc., etc., But I adhered to what I had said at first. You will, I have no doubt, receive a letter from him to my prejudice, but I am not afraid of that, I have worked for you for some time. You know all I can do, and what I cannot do; and I have never worked for the Superintendent or C. Brown; and he knows not whether I am worth anything or nothing. Yesterday he called at Halse's with your letter, and made an apology to me in so far as became his dignity as such. I read that part of your letter which referred to me, and which corresponds exactly with what I said to him. He little knows that you showed me that part of it when we were at Mokau. He pressed me to accept his terms again; but I asked him to allow me to leave it for the present, because I was under offer to you. Mr. Cooper has agreed to give me a guinea a day when I am actually employed on the sueveys; and rainy weather, Norris work comes in. I have been surveying four days on this land, and Cooper has expressed himself well pleased with what I have done. I remain with the natives, and go to work as the natives, say at dark in the morning. I shall leave the subject of the Hua Block for Cooper to write on; but I think as far as I can learn from the natives, Cooper's management of this place, Te Hua, notwithstanding what the people say, will win him laurels, and will satisfy you, --- that is, if the present arrangement is adhered to by the natives. They consent to give up to Cooke, some of the most desirable land in the purchase; and a fortnight or so, will settle the question. With respect to Mokau, I am keeping up correspondence with the people, and will continue to do so; except I hear from you to the contrary. Should you not think me worth the sum I ask, I shall be most happy to give any person you may send to Mokau, every information to the best of my ability; or I will go to Mokau for you for a month or two next summer, without any remuneration, as I feel confident of my success there. I am doing well in Taranaki; but your work I like better than any other employment, as I am fond of ranging about, and it agrees with my health; and I should not be at all afraid to attack a more difficult question than Mokau, if I had twelve months practice there. I sincerely trust you will not take amiss my views in this matter, as I think I may without prejudice to myself, ask a sum which, at least in my opinion, I consider I am worth. I should, of course, keep a horse, which would be at the entire service of the Government. Should you think of employing me, I should like if it were possible, to be under your control as much as possible; and Cooper, I think, would prefer to have me at work with him amongst the natives than Carrington; but I am going too dar. I shall feel obliged if you will write to me at your convenience. I remain my dear Sir, Yours very truly (Signed) J. Rogan. To:- Donald McLean Esq. Land Commissioner Auckland.