New Plymouth, April 9th, 1846 To His Excellency, Captain Grey, Governor of New Zealand. Sir, We the undersigned inhabitants of New Plymouth beg to express to your Excellency the favourable opinion we entertain as to the manner in which Mr. McLean has performed the duties of his Office during his residence amongst us as the Sub Protector of Aborigines for this District. Without adverting to the Protectorate in general it is our belief that by his conciliatory conduct and strict impartiality, Mr. McLean has secured for himself individually the respect and friendly feelings of both races in this settlement nor are we aware that he has ever taken advantage of his influence with the natives, to excite them to act uncharitably or in an improper manner towards the European population on the contrary we believe that whilst acting in the spirit of justice towards the former, it has always been in connexion with a natural feeling of sympathy for the defenceless position of the latter. Having heard that the Aboriginal Protectorate was to be finally abolished on the 31st of last month we consider it a matter of duty to Mr. McLean, that this our cordial opinion of his past services should be laid before your Excellency. We have the honor to remain, Your Excellency's Obedient and Humble Servants To His Excellency Governor Grey etc. etc. etc. (Signed) Henry King P.M. Geo. Aufield J.P. T. T. Wicksteed Res. Agt. of New Zealand Compy. & J.P. Wm. Bolland (Clergyman) T. Standish P. U. Gledhill Jas. Webster J.P. George St. George Edwin Harris Richard Chilman John Newland Thos. Davies Edwd. Dorsett Octavius Carrington John George Cooke J.P. S. Gillingham Robt. Gillingham Charles Hersthouse H. Hanson Turton New Plymouth June 18th. 1846. My dear Sir, I beg to forward for your perusal, the accompanying document, which is the copy of a letter forwarded to Governor Grey, from this place, on the 29th. of April. With respect to the number of signatures attached to it, I have merely to say that they are as many as there was time and convenience to procure. Otherwise, I can assure you, there is not a gentleman in this settlement who would not have subscribed his name with the same readiness and cordiality as was manifested by those whose names appear. You will, therefore, I believe, do right to consider it as but a private expression of general feeliing. I would have sent you the fore-going at an earlier period, had not your hasty departure for Wanganui prevented my doing so. Hoping that you will receive this as a sufficient excuse for my delay. I beg to remain my dear Sir, Yours truly (Signed) H. Hanson Turton. Mission House. To:- Donald McLean Esq. New Ply mouth Taranaki 20th June 1846 My Dear Sir, I have the pleasure of acknowledging your kind letter to me of the 18th instant, together with the copy of a communication addressed to His Excellency Governor Grey by yourself and other Gentlemen of this settlement on the 29th of April last. My gratification on perusing this testimonial of my services as Sub Protector was much enhanced from never having contemplated that they merited such notice and it will consequently at all times be to me a pleasing reflection that my attempts to conciliate the Europeans and Aborigines of this part of the Island whether successful or otherwise have secured for me such a mark of esteem. Nor can I conclude without expressing my satisfaction that with my late appointment does not cease my connexion with this settlement in the prosperity of whose inhabitants I have taken the greatest interest and I derive encouragement from the anticipation that my present appointment may contribute in some measure to that, as well as to the recognition of better feelings between both races. I remain, My dear Sir, Yours truly, (Signed) Donald McLean Revd. H. Hanson Turton, Mission House.