Private and Confidential. Auckland Octr.7th 1870 My dear Mr McLean On the receipt of some private correspondence from you enclosed for my private guidance on the subject of certain assertions made by individuals who shall be nameless, reflecting upon Major Mair - I felt it my duty to write to him on the subject privately and as a friend - He replied very promptly and as he has given me leave to show the note to you I now enclose it. There is something manly and candid about it and is just such a letter as I should expect from him. I wish to be his friend, and save him from the toils with which he is surrounded - and as a personal favor to myself let me enlist your sympathies in his behalf. The way this can best be done is to remove him to some other district. I enclose his letter and please return it to me or destroy it after perusal. Very faithfully yours, Hy. T. Clarke