Mount Herbert 19 Decr. 1866 Private. My dear Maclean This will be delivered to you by John Evans from the Station near Tangoro who was one of the two persons in the ware there when Maiha was found. He will explain to you his part in the matter, and I think you will find that he is not to blame for harbouring and feeding Maiha longer than he could help. With regard to the swamp near the Pukepuke and Middle Road Gorge, which was offered to me by Henry (Karaitiana's brother) and wh. I told you I would withdraw my claims to you in his favour - I saw Henry on my way up and he seemed annoyed at what I had agreed to do, but of course all his idea was that I would bleed more freely than you. On my way up I observed the substrata near Pukepuke at a cutting made to let off the water, which appeared to me so inferior that I went into the swamp and made a closer inspection. The result is that I consider the whole piece very inferior and I write you this to