He never seems to get the correct measure of the Natives. In this Bush purchase case he thought it was all done and when difficulties were raised he was for dropping the whole thing at once. I dont know how we shall get on with it. We left off yesterday with Karaitiana proposing they should all return to their homes as we would not accept their terms. Kariatiana demands about £23,000 for what they offer which is about 200,000 acres. Our offer is about half that. I hear that sweep Purvis Russell advised the Natives to stick out for a long price as the Govt. were obliged - he told them - to buy and must give whatever they asked. What I regret is that the Block is so cut up. It is that makes it so difficult to deal with it. Locke says he could get it through the Court in no other way - at any rate this way has caused all the trouble. Another unsatisfactory point is the leaving out that Block at the head of the Wairarapa. I believe now the natives did that on purpose - in fact Karaitiana admitted as much to me. Of course the talk about the Railway has increased the difficulty of dealing for the land. Karaitiana and those who take his view think if they can keep back the land, the Railway will still be made and they reap the benefit. Another party the old Maori section are dis-inclined to sell