Woodlands, Waipukurau, January 24th 1862 My dear McLean I received your letter of 16th inst. overland yesterday, and in reply to it write by return of post. I am sorry to say I can give you no information about Ngaparaka and Rangitoto Blocks. I don't even remember their names or anything connected with their purchase. I have no copies of deeds, nor any other documents connected with Wellington, having handed over everything to Searancke, by whom I fancy these blocks must have been bought, I am glad you found the explanation about the £110 useful. I will see what Domett's books say about it when I visit Napier again. I was much gratified to hear that you had been at Woburn and see Mrs. Cooper, and I have to thank you for what you say about my leave. For fear of accidents I had mentioned the subject to Mr.Ward, and had got leave from him officially. I am going down per steamer at the end of this month, having abandoned my overland Journey, and shall return per February trip. There will then be a great gathering of Natives at Waipureku to tangi for Moananui and Ward has written to the Govr. to advise him to to come at that time. You will also I suppose be here about then, and the Civil Commissr. will have arrived in the meantime so I expect there will be a great deal of business done on the occasion. I send you a copy of the Herald which will give you an idea of what Ward has been doing. On the whole his mission has been more successful than not. The Natives are disposed to take up Sir G.Grey's policy, but they want the Waitara question settled first that is a sine qua non, as they say they cannot feel comfortable in accepting offers from the Govt. while that remains unsettled. Ward got into bad health, and could not finish his work as he intended - but he has promised that the Civil Commissioner shall be sent down as soon as possible after his arrival at Auckland. Hapuku has returned Mason's sheep, but still claims £400 from him. There are not many land questions here for you to settlem mostly squabbles about old reserves. Hapuku is trying on a game at Pourerere - he disputes everything - wants to increase Pelichet's boundaries, and to reduce very materially the land he sold to Northwood for the horses - his last dodge was to return the animals and claim back the land. There is no dispute about Pikokino, but the delay has arisen from incomplete surveys, so that we could not point out the boundaries. It has been impossible to get the Natives to accompany the survey in the fine weather. The Govt. have sent me orders to buy up the claims at Puketitiri if possible - I think you can manage this better than I, as you can contradict their lies about what took place at the sale, which I cannot. There is also a dispute about the boundaries of Johnston's run, Ruataniwha, in which the Natives are wrong, but it will give some little trouble. I have sent dupte. of Catchpool's receipt in a private note to Friend - the delay in the a/cs is getting vouchers copied - I put them into the hands of a Clerk at Napier, who promised to have them ready for the Pole Star, but failed me - I suppose he got drunk or something of the sort. I was too busy with Ward to copy them out myself. I am going down on Monday next to Napier, where I expect to find everything cut and dry - at all events I shall not leave Napier till the a/cs are in the Post office. I gave Ward my report upon Nopera's claim against Newman. It was delayed for Newman's explanation, which he gave in a long epistle, full of irrelevant matter. Ward tried to settle it, but Nopera claimed 3 years' rent @ £72, making £216, and Newman would only admit Govt. rent, about £30 for the whole time, but would have stretched it to £50 to effect a settlement, but the Natives would not listen to it. So things are as before. I hope I shall see you in Wellington, meanwhile I remain Yours very truly G. S. Cooper