Ngamotu 7 March 1848 Sir, the Governor listen to what I have to say. Mclean has agreed, although the land has not been surveyed. Following his agreement McLean came to me and asked me to approve of the survey of the land owned by the children of Dick Barrett. I said to him that I was prepared to let them (two) have the land if they paid for it. It is my land, they had not paid for it. He Dick Barrett had not actually bought it. He had asked me for the land on the understanding that he would pay annually. I went to him to ask him for the papers pertaining to the land and he did not give them to me. I am now of the opinion with the approval of the Europeans and the Judge that this man, Dick Barrett, should be brought before the court and apprehended. Following this discussion I again asked Dick to pay by giving me horses for my land but he would not agree. I then decided I should take the land back and lease it the European way for one year at a time. There is no one person more important than my land. Since we commenced the survey we have received a message from Poharama directed by the Europeans, that they should take the land to pay for the survey of his land. This was secretly told by Poharama to the surveyors. I heard this from one of the Europeans. I was inwardly disgusted with Poharama as his wrongful act intruded into my domain. Friend, the Governor. I do not want to be included with Poharama as he has offended against us. I am therefore insisting that you give another piece of land for us as described by McLean at the starting point of the survey. Friend, the Governor, I had already discussed with McLean two years ago when I came to live at Ngamotu following the payment by Fitzroy, and then Brown came to find out who was the owner of the land. He saw Wiremukawahowho told Brown, "You go to Moturoa to Joel he will tell you what to do" Now Brown went on his horse. Dick Barrett was alive [he had since died]. When Brown arrived at Dick Barrett's he told him to go to Joel to Manahi to Paratene as they were the ones who had the say as to what was to be done with the land, that is the land that would be used to graze the cattle belonging to Kamu Kingi. It would not be right in my opinion for Kamu Kingi's cows grazing to be charged £4 for one year, £8 for two years and £12 for three years. I then told brown that the charge should be £50 a year and the same for the 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th and 7th year. When the Europeans heard about the higher price it was turned down. When a certain Maori heard of the favourable arrangement I had out forward for grazing Kamu Kingi's cattle he was somewhat disgruntled and said not to accept payment and for the land to be left for the cultivation of food for the Maori people. I was reminded of what my father told me when McLean and I went on the sailing ship Victoria. His name was Rawiri. When we reached Totaranui, he (Rawiri) listened to what I had to say and he agreed that I should give the land to McLean. I had referred this to McLean when I arrived back from Wellington. McLean did not consider what I had told him. It will be seen from this that they are arranging by with the Europeans to receive payment for my land. I am of opinion that each one should pay for his own land. If I had to pay the European I would want to pay myself. For one person to pay or receive payment for all is stealing and should be liable for imprisonment. From Joel [Hoera] Notes on Translation. 1. Ngamotu - Area around the Sugar Loafes. 2. Dick Barrett - Pakeha-Maori who fought with Taranaki Maoris against Waikato Maoris. 3. Joel - Joel almost certainly. 4. Kamu Kingi - This could be King, early European settler of Taranaki [i.e.Captain Henry King, Taranaki Magistrate]. 5. Tataranui - Near Tasman Bay, Nelson. [Trans. M.R. Jones]