New Plymouth Ap. 26 1852. Dear Sir, On Wednesday next I am going to Hauranga and hope to arrange the squatting question satisfactorily. The road from the Poutoko to Oakura is not yet finally arranged but I think Te Ngahuru will carry it through - it is amusing to hear remarks on questions affecting natives from 2 year old settler who think they could carry roads anywhere before I could say Jack Rohinson. While I think of it, Te Ngahuru told me he should after this year unless his pay was increased - considerable jealousy has always existed in consequence of Rawiri and Honi Ropiha getting £65 each, would it not be advisable to remove that feeling by reducing the sixty five to fifty or forty each - giving a portion to Te Ngahuru and the balance to Tahana who at present gets nothing? Circumstanced as we are surely it would be good policy to purchase the intere of leading & influential men, whatever some may say who know nothing of the question, rather than herald our own weakness to the native population who might form a fancy to take advantage of it and so involve Govt. in an expensive war. Since Your departure my rule has been to smooth over matters as best I could, no easy task by the way without some allowance if only £50 a year, to be accounted for when expended - something of this kind would be as well if brought under Sir George's notice, in fact it is next to impossible to get on here without something of the kind. Puketapu natives are again pecking at each other about land and perhaps it is as well they should for coupled with the mortality amongst their children, it may end in our getting the land. I hear the Mokau Natives are getting dissatisfied about the non completion of the land sale at Awakino and only mention it for your information. Hoping Mrs. McLean is well, I remain, Dear sir, Very truly yours, H. Halse.