15 February 1851 Friend, McLean, Greetings to you there in that strange land. Friend, your letter has come to us and we have read your words and of the affection of the chiefs of that place for you. This is what I have to say concerning your message which has reached me. Although there are very many chiefs who oppose my plan, it will not die. Don't say that my intention is like a leaf attached to a branch and before too many days it will drop off, rather my intention will remain firm forever. There is another matter concerning the ship which foundered at Waitara in the previous week. It was caught on the sandbank; it was dragged off and brought into the river. However, the Maori on shore did not go to repair their ship. The Pakeha observed this and paid out 200 [plugs?] of tobacco. Don't say to me that that was our conduct, not so, it was theirs. I did not see this bad business, for our home is much further inland. I, Tamati and Wiremu Kingi were working on our wheat; if we had seen it we would have dragged it to our place, to repair that ship. That is all; there is no other trouble now to write of to you. From your loving young ones, Ihaia and Tamati Ngamotu