Wanganui December 22 1871 My dear Mr. McLean I am writing this in a hurry as the "Goahead" leaves in an hour, so pray excuse the roughness of the following notes - they may prove of service and if not no harm is done. About Kemps claims, I believe he has a right to certain lands at Waitotara and has cause for discontent, but the demands made for himself and tribe are preposterous. I think you will find, that Kemp, as spokesman for the tribe and other chiefs, who are backing him up, wishes to obtain this large block of country, to hand back to their relations the Ngarauru and to locate them upon it, though Kemp gives out, that if he obtains it he wishes to lease it to the Pakeha and applications have been made to him for a portion. Haimona Hiroti of Corinth had a long conversation with me a few days ago, he lays claim to all land between Patea and Whenua Kura river, but abandons the Railway reserve and the land seaward of it as payment for the sins of the tribe, retaining all land on the other side of the Railway and the bush, this does not include the two reserves at Oika and Putahi, but these were intended as reserves for the Pakakohi. Haimanas intention in claiming this land is I think to hand it back to these people he wished me to take his case up and fight it for him for which he hinted I should get remunerated. Judging from what I know of the past I fancy trouble would again arise in the Patea District, could the enemy realise that the Government would get no assistance from the Wanganui natives, there is but a very small chance of Wanganui ever taking up arms against the Government, but they are quite aware of the amount of pressure they could bring to bear, if they gave it out, as natives can do, that in the event of disturbances they would not interfere, knowing full well that were such events to happen they would have to be employed in some way, when they could make terms about Waitotara besides getting daily pay, I by no means intend to imply that the Government would be obliged to give in to any demands that might be made - this the natives could be very troublesome. The general feeling among the natives, - I speak of Nga Tangata, as they do not disguise matters from me, is a wish to be employed - be in receipt of pay - and as fighting or being in the field is the simplest way for them to make money they rather wish for such excitement and the men make no scruple of telling me so. Before the Native Contingent left the Patea District at the expiration of their term of service they paid a visit to the Ngutu o te Manu, and had a meeting with Titokowaru and other Nga ti Ruanui chiefs. After the usual speeches made on occasions of this kind the N. C. through their leader said Listen o Titokowaru if fighting again takes place between you and the Pakehas. You will have to arrange your disputes between yourselves, we will not fight any more and now we say farewell - or words to the above effect. This meeting took place during the time I was at Hokitika, On my return to Patea the mischief that had been brewing in my absence blazed up, and three months after the above meeting was held Cohill Squire and Smith were kill ed at their sawpit and disturbances commenced. Before Titokowaru commenced ravaging the district he had, to his satisfaction at least, ascertained that Wanganui would and not take the field, This country may thank old Hori Kingi, that this was not the case, as there was a great disinclination on the part of the other natives, as they said the HauHaus were not to blame. I had a long Korero with Hori in the Wanganui Hotel, a crowd of natives were on the Market place at the time and I worked him up, when he went out and danced about as an old native only can, and eventually I got as many natives as the Govt.would let me have, and only through this really fine old fellow. Yesterday the natives who had arranged with me to take me over the 20000 acre block at the Mangawhero, came in, in consequence of a letter I had sent to them - they put off going up the river and in the course of conversation asked me what the Wanganui were to do with their rifles - This was a totally different subject to that we had been talking about, But I make it a rule never to be surprised at anything it's no use, but after a little more talk I found that they wished to know from me if they would be right in giving up their arms, they enquired if I had heard that Titokowaru had come back to 'te NgutuotoManu' and had driven away twenty head of cattle. About four days ago a settler named Peter, one of the Ret. Military Settlers a quiet and steady man, came to Wanganui from Patea - he informed me that the natives had been stealing cattle from the settlers and that they were going to have a meeting about it, I had forgotten about this till these natives mentioned what they did to me. I feel pretty certain that until the Waitotara claims are in a fair way to be settled - that many obstacles will be placedin the way of obtaining the land the Government require for Settlement. As all these disputes relating to Horowhenua, Waitotara, and other places, disturb the native mind and encourage any idea discontented tribes may have of creating disturbances. There is of course some justice in giving Ngarauru and other tribes who have been fighting against us us land to cultivate for themselves to enable them to support their tribes and families but should you wish for my ideas on this and other matters connected with it. Such as they are, they are at your service. I also enclose you a paper which may be interesting I have no time to make a fresh copy but I lose the mail. Yours very truly Thos.McDonnell