Grafton Road 26 July 1870. Dear Sir Donald, Since my return from the Chatham Island I have spent my time in the Natives Lands Court Office being so requested by Mr. Fenton in hope of receiving something to do from you. Mr. Fenton informed me that he had written to you abo about me and requested me to write to you also. I do hope you will excuse me in troubling you in a time when I know that you must be tino raru with work but as I cannot get any work wheneby to obtain bread for my wife and 6 children I know you will frogive a tangata mate when he asks of you. I have seen in the Newspapers that £100,000 is to be spent in the purchase of land from the Natives. If you will not think it mpertinent of me to say, if I were appointed Interpreter to the Native Lands Court and Land Purchase Commissioner I could do the two at the same time as being interpreter in the lands court I could know what land was being passed through the Court, and the salary of the two officers might be the same as I received as Commissioner. I could buy all the land for the 4 Provinces of the North Island, which if my salary and travelling expenses were divided amongst them it would come to a very little each. You will see by the Papers in the office that I was not dismissed but that the last office I held was done away with because the Native Lands Court put an end to Government purchasing land from the Natives. If there is now a new appointment to be made as I still hold my commissioner a ''Land Purchase Commr.'' dated12 May 1865 if you consider me entitled to such appointment and give it to me you will again add to your former kindness to your Sincere and ever obedt. servt. John White.