Government House 24th, Sept. 1849. My dear Sir, Not having heard from you recently, I am quite ignorant of whether you are now at Manawatu or not; but in the suppoaition that you are, I write to you there. From your former communication, I gather that you consider the question of the adjustment of the Manawatu, as likely to occupy some little time; and that, in fact, in cases of difficulty such as it, no advantage is now gained by forcing the natives too closely, or hurrying them beyond their ordinary and rather slow manner of transacting business. This being the case, it has occurred to both myself and the Executive Council, that it may not be necessary that you should be always on the spot to press the Manawatu negotiations; but that it would rather be an agvantage for you to have some other negotiations to carry on simultaneously; and the most obvious one which presents itself is that of the Wairarapa; and the Executive Council have strongly recommended that the negotiations for that district should be placed under your direction, with a view to your going there immediately, if you can do so without prejudice to the Manawatu Question; and then, by your passing from one to the other, as you may consider most desirable, so as to carry on simultaneously the negotiations for both purchases - until one of the two is so far adjusted as to require your sonstant presence to complete it finally. It is intended to authorise you to enforce the Native Lands' Purchase Ordinance against any parties who you may find standing in the way of bringing the question to a satisfactory issue; but this authority will have to be exercised with great discretion, so as not to give more annoyance, or to inflict more injury upon any of the Squatters than may be necessary to remove any obstacles which their presence, or the arrangements they have made with the natives, may offer to the acquisition of the district. After, however, you have been up and enquired into the state of the question, you will be able to report what measures you consider it desirous to adopt. The opening between the Rangitikei and the Wairarapa, will, it is supposed, offer you a ready and convenient mode of crossing from one field of your labours to the other, as occasion may render necessary; and it will be very desirable for you to give a £ull and descriptive report of the nature of the grass, distance, etc. etc. Mr. Parr, on behalf of the Company, is most anxious you should undertake the Wairarapa purchase; and I can only say that I have no officer in whose ability or competency to undertake so difficult a question I have such implicit confidence as I have in you. Indeed I feel assured that notwithstanding the failures hitherto, your perseverance and energy will overcome every obstacle, and add still further to your already justly earned reputation as an able and successful negotiator with the natives. I cannot get ready any instructions for you by this mail, but will cause them to be transmitted by the earliest opportunity, in a few days at the utmost, to the Manawatu, where I suppose you are now to be found. I shall be glad to hear from you by every opportunity, as to the progress you are making, and the prospects which exist in regard to any of the questions under your direction. Believe me My dear Sir, faithfully yours To:- (Signed) G. Eyre. Donald McLean Esq.