Redcliffe, Napier. August 16, 1871. Dear McLean, I only received your letter of 5 Aug. yesterday, having been absent from home for some days. I hasten to assure you that I am not in treaty with the natives for block no.2 Ngatarawa; nor should I for a moment entertain such an idea if it were offered to me; I have always held that such leases if not valid in law, were at all events so between men of honour. Perhaps I can explain how the rumour originated by sending you the enclosed copy of letter to the Registrar of Deeds. Whoever informed you that I was in treaty for the land, ought to have shown more care in ascertaining the truth of his statement, as he must have known that such an act would be un-neighbourly and discreditable and therefore should not lightly have accused me of it; reference to myself would have been his proper course. I thank you for drawing my attention to the report and also for the manner in which you have expressed yourself with regard to it. Believe me Yours truly, A. Hamilton Russell.