Wellington. 5th. April 1848. Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge your Excellency's remarks on the native letter referred to me this morning, with reference to the Waitohi and Waitara questions being kept distinct, as the greater comparative importance of the latter, observed by your Excellency renders it so essentially necessary that it should be the more speedily adjusted. I would therefore, beg to observe that from what I have heard from the Ngatiawa natives since I have been in this Province, there is every probability that the sale of any of their lands in the South would cause almost the whole of them to return to Taranaki, where, by their formidable numbers, they might, for a length of time, successfully oppose any arrangement for obtaining lands for the Europeans in that district; and use, as a pretence for such opposition, that being induced to part with their lands at the South, they had a right to maintain their original possessions at Taranaki, more especially the Waitara, to which river they have such an unalienable attachment. I have the honour to remain Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient servant (Signed) Donald McLean Inspector of Police New Plymouth. To:- His Excellency The Lieut. Governor. Memo. A translation of the native letter above referred to with a copy of the Lieut. Governor's minute thereon, is along with native letters on Waitara claims. (Signed) D. McL.