New Plymouth, August 22nd, 1852. Donald McLean Esqre. Crown Land Commissioner, etc. etc. etc. Sir, As the Agent and Attorney of Mr.Edwin Davy of Auckland, I have to request that other land may be offered to the Natives in exchange for the reserve of Nine acres, forming a portion of Suburban Sections No.145, and 146 - You are aware that His Excellency the Governor in Chief has been pleased to sanction an exchange, if it can be effected. Nine acres of land, situated in the Town belt, opposite to Mr. Standish's, could be proposed as an equivalent, and as a portion of that land was formerly cultivated by Erangi Matotoru, it would probably be accepted by the present proprietors of the reserve. Mr.Davy will forfeit the sum of One Hundred Pounds, should you be unable to give Mr.Richardson possession of this reserve. Irrespective of the constant source of annoyance to the proprietor, and of trouble to the Inspector of Police, which the constant trafic of Natives and their dogs through a sheep farm would inevitably prove, you will on reference to the charts, see that there is no right of road through Sections 145 and 146 to this Native reserve. On behalf of Mr.Davy, I am prepared to make the Natives any compensation you may think them entitled to for effecting an Exchange. Should you not succeed in negotiating an exchange, perhaps you may devise some means of protecting Mr.Davy from the system of extortion hitherto practised by William Mototeri, and of delaying the occupation of the land of the Natives. Provided the Natives refuse to accept the land suggested or any other in lieu of the reserve, Mr.Davy will of course be entitled to receive Land in Exchange, would you be prepared to give the nine acres in the Town belt, allow him to effect the Exchange with the Natives, and sanction such exchange when concluded? I have hitherto refrained from intruding on your valuable time, but hearing that you will soon leave this settlement, I have to request that you will be pleased, if possible to come to a conclusive arrangement with the Natives respecting this Reserve, ere your departure. Sir, I have the honour to be, Your Most Obt.Servant, R. Brown.