New Plymouth 8th. November 1856. My dear McLean, "Mr. Chilman's Claim duly came off on the 3rd. inst., and the "alienations of land without the authority of law" charges followed. A great stir had been made in each matter, chiefly by those immediately interested in the former; and both broke down utterly. I duly received your letter by the "Zingari", --- the mail of which was landed with difficulty, owing to weather. You were correct in suspecting there would be some rash meddling with the Kawau pa, but my evidence silenced it, and I trust it will end there, and not reach the natives, who really should not be subject to these intolerable vagaries of our Provincial authorities; even though they may be intended as attacks upon you. For instance, it was clear from Mr. Thomas King's bearing, (this gentleman acted as Chairman in both cases, a position altogether ineligible considering that he is married to Mr. Chilman's