Auckland April 23rd 66 My dear McLean, I was very glad to receive yours of the 17th inst. I shall feel greatly obliged to you if you will have a little talk with Col. Russell on the question of my change of appointment. By this last mail I have received an official in answer to mine in which I am told that "as arrangements have been made for the Bay of Plenty District it is not desired that I should return to Maketu to arrange the affairs of the Department" - I had asked the question as to where I should be required to reside in future and what expenses of removal would be allowed - I am told in reply that Col. Russell presumes that my residence will in future be at the several places where I may hold Land Courts and that as I have "virtually ceased to reside at Maketu" and am now in Auckland he cannot recognize the necessity for any allowance of expenses of removal. Now the simple fact is this I am at the present moment keeping up my establishment at Maketu - paying rent for the house and premises - paying servants to take charge of it and look after my horses - My furniture is there and I may say that it is my home - When I brought up my family here two years ago I had to bear all the expense of doing so and of furnishing a house here - The Govt. has not paid one penny towards this - During these two years I have been paying £95 per annum rent for the two houses and drawing only the Govt. allowance of £50 per annum. I think it most unfair that because I happen to have been so unfortunate as to be obliged to move my family up here in consequence of the disturbed state of the country and to have to keep up two establishments that the Govt. should find in that a reason for refusing to allow expenses of removal from the District - especially when it is borne in mind that I was put to considerable loss in having to break up my home here 4 years ago to go there - I shall not reply to the official letter just received by this mail as my letter would not find Col. Russell in Wellington but if you have an opportunity of having a chat with him on the subject you can do me a great service by putting the matter in its true light. I cannot think that Col. Russell really understands the facts of the case - I have not yet seen Keeni but hear he is in in town to day and will get the £100 settled before he goes, if possible - Rogan tells me it is all right - Clarke writes me from Tauranga that it will be absolutely necessary for me to go down there before he can take over the department I wonder how any one could conceive that it would not be necessary. The proper course would be for me to go and pay up salaries etc. to the end of the March Quarter and square up every thing so that Clarke would know what he is about. I hear from Nesbitt who has come up by the Governors request that Sir George has promised that there shall be no reductions among the Arawa. Will the promise be kept? - If so Sir George will have to battle it with his Ministers or they will alter their views very considerably. I write in great haste to catch the mail faithfully yours Thos. H. Smith His Honor Donald McLean Esquire Superintendent Napier