Patea Jany. 17th 1868 Dear Sir We have arrived at Patea Hamlin and S.Johnston are here the latter came with Birch - Birch has got an excellent run of about thirty or forty thousand acres, and has got about four hundred sheep on the ground and is now driving up three or four thousand more - There is a great deal more land open here yet but the natives don't seem very anxious to lease, although I think a little persuasion will change them Messrs.Ormond and Mr.A. Mc ean ought to come as quickly as possible as there are people coming from the west coast. They should come by the Ngaruroro road - Karaitiana and Ihakara have nearly every thing to say - They are very jealous of Renata and Noa - There is a good piece of land called Ohaoko between Tamarau and Rangitikei that Renata and Noa are joint owners with Karaitiana and these people which is open, it is crossed on the way up. A guide will be required - The above mentioned open land streches to Kaimarama part of it is hilly but there is plenty of it. Jan. 15th. Since writing the above Ihakara has returned from the west coast he states that the Otamakapua block that Renata talked about is leased to some one at Rangitikei as a cattle run for twelve years, by Potaka at £400 and £600 a year for twelve years. The natives here ask about a paper containing their boundaries which you have got. They have been told that you gave it to Renata at which they are angry - I think the land called Kahutea at the back of Roto Aira and Taupo lake would suit Mr. Fitzgerald. The Wanganui natives have a good deal to say about some of this land - The principal Natives here - are Ihakara -Karaitiana Hori Pohe - at Rotoaira Hetaraka te Wetu and Hare Tauteka - I hope to be back some day this week - I remain Yours truly S. Locke P. S. Since Hamlin and I have been over the country here, we have decided to take the whole in the name of one of us. It is much smaller than we were led to believe and there are no boundaries - You can then divide it with Cox and Co. or keep it all as a company with Cox and Co.