Auckland 22 Decem. 1857. My dear Sir, I am exceedingly obliged for the copy of the "Waste Lands Act" you sent me, and I shall give it a careful perusal on the passage to Ahuriri, from which place I will do myself the pleasure of writing to you. I have been so busy preparing for my trip to the South that I have not had sufficient time to peruse the Act with that cafe that would enable me to express an opinion respecting its general merits. The clause enabling the Natives to repurchase out of the lands they sell is a very judicious one, but one month appears too short a period; would not two or three meet the case better? I am even glad to see an instalment given in these matters and if the longer period is objected to on the grounds that it may be taken advantage of by Europeans, then we must be satisfied with the limited period. I am very glad that you have made a favourable reference to the Nova Scotians in your speech opening the session. It has pleased many of them very much. The prospect of the province as regards the Native Land question is very encouraging --- 100,000 acres are being purchased at the North Cape, well adapted for sheep-runs; 40,000 or 50,000 at Whangarei, besides large tracts at the Kaipara, the Thames, and Coromandel. It is true that some of these places take considerable time in negotiating, but matters are nevertheless proceeding steadily and on a satisfactory basis, so that I trust you will never experience a scarcity of land as you have hitherto done in this province. I am glad that you concur in my views respecting the colonization of the Northern part of the province, you may feel assured that when that is well settled that other tribes will soon follow the example and yeild possession of their extensive and to them almost valueless tracts they now decline to sell. Wishing you every possible success, I remain My dear Sir Yours very truly Signed Donald McLean. I expect to get back from the south a short time before the meeting of Assembly.