Onehunga May 28th 1860 My dear McLean, I am in receipt of several notes from you which I have not hitherto had any opportunity of acknowledging - I had a sharp attack of bilious fever a fortnight since, which left me very weak and nervous - I have however been at work again during the past week and am pretty much myself at present - Fulloon was in such a hurry to return that I could not write by him - The view taken by you with reference to the proposed terms to be offered to Wm. King coincided with my own expressed both to H.E. and Richmond - Hold Teira's block against the world, and smash the murderous Ngatiruanui or Taranaki if you like, but land questions are best left alone just at present. I anticipate good from the present Ngaruawahia meeting - The speeches you report are, I believe, merely to try the state of feeling - As to how far the Waikato are prepared to act - they are merely 'patai's' not 'kupu tuturu' - Merely a feeling of the Waikato pulse - I should not be at all surprised to hear that Potatau is on his way back to Mangere and that the King party are 'pokai kaha noa iho' - The circulars of invitation to the meeting in July were sent to the southern chiefs shortly after you left - Searancke writes that Te Puni and Porutu do not accept, but I have no doubt, should you visit the south, you will effect a change in their determination - Turton writes that the West Coast Chiefs accept - The invitations for the north are not yet issued but should not be much longer delayed No reports from Hawke's Bay - Cooper, I forgot to mention to you, had applied for and obtained 6 weeks leave of absence just before I went up the Waikato and was probably at Wellington when the letters arrived at Napier - Young Buller has been written for and directed to be in Auckland before the end of June - Upon your Memo. on the subject Richmond recommended discontinuing Burn as Commercial editor - notice to be given him that his services are not required after end of next month - the Govr. has approved, but I have not yet taken action wishing to give you an opportunity of having a say in the matter, as I know you were opposed to parting with Burn when it was proposed on a former occasion - Let me hear from you on this point - The M. M. has not yet been brought out weekly, the fact is I have my hands more than full with office work and the usual native interruptions - My illness has ''bothered me entirely'' and when the file of papers lying on my table are to be disposed of is a problem not easy of solution - I have impressed Halse for Maori Messenger work - and he is getting the numbers out as fast as he can - Have you thought of a place of meeting for the Chiefs - The Governor thought of the Melanesian Institution at Kohimarama - if the Bishop were willing to make it available for the purpose - A good idea, I think - what say you - The Bishop of Wellington I am sorry to say, goes hand in hand with Hadfield in calling in question the justice of the course taken by the Governor in the Taranaki business - He also speaks of Searancke ''creating ill will among the natives by beginning the survey of disputed land at Manawatu and Muhunui'' (?) - I have written to Searancke requesting him to suspend any survey of disputed land in those places if such has been begun - Wardell goes to Wellington by the 'W. Swan' which left on Friday - Many thanks for your kind sympathy I am sincerely glad to hear that your own health is so much improved - I shall hope to to see you by the end of the present week or early in the next - and then I suppose you will be off again. Kind regards to Rogan - he will excuse my writing to him though his debtor - Believe me dear McLean Yours sincerely Thos. H. Smith