Auckland Octr. 3, 1870. My dear Mr. McLean, I returned to Auckland from Bay of Plenty on Wednesday last and find that lots of work has accumulated in my absence and although letters require attention only as simple matters of routine they take up a deal of time. I left matters in the Bay of plenty very quiet the natives every where are anxious to be at work. The Tauranga natives are nearly done with their planting and are continually at me for work. The same with some of the Arawa hapus. The cutting down system with regard to past liabilities is causing no end of dissatisfaction, and what is very much to be regretted your local officers have to hear the illnatured remarks and behaviour of the dissatisfied. Mr. Gill tells me that at Torere Wiremu Kingi behaved in a most outrageous manner saying that they were being cheated by Mair. I believe that some well known Opotiki pakeha is at the bottom of it. I am told that Locke is in very bad favour at Taupo from the same cause. He is called a liar and is otherwise most unjustly spoken of - and to tell you the truth I am afraid that this screwing will cost us in the long run more than double the money we have saved. I have had many matters brought before me in the shape of engagements made by McDonnell which I have refused to meet. I cannot do it under my present instructions, - they involve thousands of pounds. Hundreds of natives at Te Teko and Te Awaoteatua men put on pay, officers appointed and I don't know what all but I cannot acknowledge them. I know I shall suffer for it. I wish McDonnell would come and settle all these outstanding claims. I am heartily sick of the whole thing - I am placed between two fires - I have the natives on one side of me and the Government on the other. I hope to get off with a whole skin. I was extremely vexed to find this in the estimate of money I required to settle up to the 5th. of March there was an item of nearly £800 omitted. I quite expect to get a good scolding from you about it. Not that the Government will be the losers by the omission but it must cause disappointment. I have made a very great noise about it because it has arisen entirely from carelessness in those officers who were entrusted to make up a list of claims. It lies between Gill Mair and Preece. The only excuse I can make for them is they were very much harassed at the time. I propose going up the Waikato as soon as I can get all matters squared off here. The allocation of the "returned rebels" is the principal business that will take me as well as to make myself personally acquainted with the with the District. Mr. Hettet is in town he has come for his wife. She has at last consented to go with him. He brings small items of information which I give you. Our friend Tuhoro is in very bad favor entirely because he corresponds with us. The same with W. Pukapuka - it appears that the latter wrote to you informing you that Manga and Tawhiao and Taonui were going to Mokau to meet Ihaia Kirikumara - it is said that you wrote back asking what they wanted to go for. This letter is reported to have been lost by W. Pukapuka and picked up by some one else, and has caused a good deal of unpleasantness. Some stationery was sent up from this office for Tuhoro - the parcel was opened by the "Kings Messenger" and the contents appropriated. I think we shall have to use a discretion in our communications with those people. Nini Kukutai took his daughter to the Kuiti for Tawhiaos son, but Te Paea won't have it. I have been so much engaged lately that I have not been able to write my Reports. There are several matters to which I wish to draw your attention and I should be glad to get speedy replies. Principally on subject of Roads and Telegraph. I am quite perplexed as to these Roads under whose management are they to be? I am so afraid of clashing with any other officer and perhaps impeding the public service. I shall write again by "Luna" I met Mr. Lewis on Saturday and he says that he will call for papers etc. Yours faithfully, Hy.T. Clarke.