N. Office Jany. 16th 1874 My dear Mr. McLean In re districts under Native Lands Act I have consulted Wi Kateni and he concurs with me that it should be the same as the Resident Magistrates District -- That is from Ngunguru or Tutukaka on East Coast to Maunganui on west coast -- taking in the whole of the north part of the Island (Mangonui Ahipara Whangaroa Bay of Islands Hokianga Whengaruru etc) This is a large district and to do the work satisfactorily a separate office should be appointed -- Who shall be District Officer and Interpreter -- Neither Mr. Williams nor Von Sturmer can undertake the work -- Kateni suggests the appointment of Mr.James Davis, who from his experience and knowledge of native manners and customs would be every way suited to the work. He is a splendid linguist and is generally liked by the natives -- his salary to keep him from starving should be £200 with £25 for travelling allowance -- Will you favorably consider this. I propose to give Booth the whole of this end of the Island -- but not to make him an Interpreter of the Court. This will impose a good deal of extra work upon him in as much as he will have to write a sort of Tribal history as connected with the principal blocks of land. I propose proclaiming the whole of Middle Island as one District with Mr. A. Mackay District Officer -- I propose also defining -- one District between Auckland and the Northern District -- one District at Thames to include Waikato, and one District Bay of Plenty to extend to Taupo -- but these last require some consideration. I have no time to say any more as the orderly will be waiting. Yours faithfully, Hy. T. Clarke