Nat. Sec. Office, Auckland Jany. 28th. 1860. Sir, I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of a letter from the Resident Magistrate at Napier and to request that you will forward a list of names of chiefs whom you would recommend to be appointed Native Assessors for that district to be submitted for approval by His Excellency the Governor. I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedt. Servt. Thos. H. Smith. A.N.S. Donald McLean Esqre.J.P., Native Secretary, Wellington. Resident Magistrate's Office, Napier Decr. 12, 1859. To the Honorable Colonial Secretary - Auckland. Sir, I have the honor to inform you that, when Mr. McLean was here about five months ago, he made out a List of those Maories whom he intended to recommend to Government for Assessors. He submitted this List to me and I approved of it and of the system, and I was under the impression that this List would be forwarded forthwith to Auckland, and the Assessors regularly appointed. But I have not heard, since then, anything about the matter, and I now write to you in the hope that something may soon be done in this matter, so that I may have the advantage, in the administration of Justice in Native cases, which this system of Assessors has been seen to confer. I have the honor to be, Sir, Yours most obedient servant, Jno. Curling. Resident Magistrate.