Turakina Pah 24th. April 1849. My dear Sir, I take advantage of to-day's mail to acquaint your Excellency that the Mongowhero tribe have offered to dispose of a tract of country on the North banks of the Wangaehu, forming a continuation of the land offered for sale "by the Ngatiapas, and bounding the Wanganui purchase on the East, by the Mongowhero river, which empties into the Wangaehu, about 24 miles inland from the Coast. At the request of the natives, Mr. Park and I started up the Wangaehu on the 18th. inst. to see this country, which is of a more broken and hilly description towards the interior than the Rangitikei. But the soil is rich and fertile, well wooded, with several eligible sites for the location of agricultural settlers. A short distance from the banks of the Wangaehu, there are extensive flats of table-land, extending Westwards towards the Wanganui purchase. Mr. Park is at present engaged surveying a Reserve for the Turakina natives, including their Pah and cultivations, also some meadows of grass land not really required by the natives, from the proximity of their situation to the general Reserve, but which they are induced to demand, and anxious to obtain, in consequence of having received £12 a year from a Wanganui settler, for grazing his cattle there. When the survey of the Reserves, which will only occupy a few days, are completed, Mr. Park will make a map of the ourchase, showing the position and extent of the Reserves, a copy of which I will take the earliest opportunity of forwarding. The forward state of the survey, and Rangihaeata's late visit to Rangitikei, increases the anxiety of the Ngatiapas to get paid for their land. Several of the claimants have arrived from Rangitikei to-day, making enquiries on the subject. I am informed that Rangihaeata, finding he could not persuade the Ngatiapas against selling their country, talked of disposing of his own claims on the coast, with an intention of removing to Rotorua, and of dispossessing the Ngatiraukawas, who, in opposition to his wishes, agreed to the sale of Rangitikei, and of some land occupied by them at Manawatu. But whether he is likely to abide by his present resolution is uncertain, as he appears very unsettled; and, from a report circulated by Tamihana, Te Rauparaha's son, he is under some apprehension that the police intend an attack on his Pah to capture Pitoni. I believe Mr. Wood, the commisariat Officer at Wanganui, would supply a sufficient amount of silver to pay the Ngatiapas their first instalment; if he could have it replaced in 6 weeks or two months after the advance is made. I fear it would be too much to expect Your Excellency's presence at Wanganui, when the payment is made, and the arrangements for the purchase concluded; although it would be a great satisfaction, both to the claimants and myself, if Your Excellency could make such a journey convenient. From what I have now seen of the country, I believe it would be admirably suited for the Canterbury settlement, by incorporating Wanganui, and purchasing as far North as the Patea river. A wealthy association might even carry on their colonizing operations as far as Mokau, by which means they would embrace within their boundaries, upwards of three millions of acres of the finest land imaginable, with a comparatively small population of natives. I remain My dear Sir, Your Excellency's most faithful servt. (Signed) Donald McLean. To:- His Excellency Lieut. Governor Eyre Wellington.