Wellington March 4 1861 My dear Maclean You will I have no doubt remember my speaking to you, when you were last here, about the Native Reserve immediately adjoining my house, my expressing a desire either to lease or purchase it, if it could legally be done, and your promising to enquire into the matter, and ascertain whether my wishes could be complied with. I understood, from what you said, that I should have the first offer of the land in question - whether for lease or purchase. During my attendance at Auckland, it appears, that a man of the name of Cottle has taken a lease of the land for eighteen or 20 years at a rent of 7--10 - the last four years rent to be rendered, if the land is fenced. Mr. Cheesman the Clerk to the Resident Magistrate, and Mr Baker the Interpreter are the parties, through whose agency this Lease has been granted - On applying to the Trustees of Native Reserves, Mr Strang informs me, that this reserve is not under their controul. Cottle who is a Blacksmith is preparing to put up a Blacksmith's Shop immediately under my dining room Window. As this will render my house well nigh uninhabitable, I am anxious to know, whether the Lease given to him is legal, and whether I am not, after my application to you, and my having refrained from dealing with the Natives, under a belief that they had no power to grant a lease or to sell the land, entitled to the first offer of the land. In order to prevent such a nuisance, I offered to buy Cottles lease, such as it is, but he asked one hundred pounds for it. I am, My dear Maclean Yours faithfully I.E. Featherston