New Plymouth, 29 Nov. 1856. My dear McLean, There is a land claim in the office which your opinion will go far in deciding, as I believe the negotiation with the natives was conducted by you. One party claims part of No.500 Section under the document, a copy of which is enclosed, with Mr. Turton's translation of it made some years since, and which I believe is not quite correct. Under this, claim is laid to all the land between the Henui river and a line produced inland until it meets the river. The other claims all No.500 as having received it for the Company for a 50 acre landorder. The marginal plan you will see clearly confirms the purchase for the natives to the section No. 488, westward of the river, and Mr. Veale received the remainder of the section when it was got from the natives. No.500 never belonged to him, but it is urged that the portion of it between the river and the line (which is much more than appears in the marginal sketch map) was bought at the same time for him, and forms part of the purchase from the natives. The land in dispute about 10 acres of No.500 has been cultivated and sold 2 or 3 deep and litigation is threatened. So if you will oblige us with an English translation of the deed (without reference to Mr. Turton's) and your impressions in an official letter (I have not time) an amicable arrangement may be effected by me under the Ordinance. I am afraid the post is closed. Yours sincy. W. Halse.