11th May 1858 Sir About the end of 1856 a town site was surveyed at the Bluff (Foveaux Straits) and advertised for sale, the advertisement was subsequently withdrawn and the land withheld from sale, in consequence, as I was told in the Land office at Otago, of a claim having been advanced by the Maorie chief of the Ngaitahu --- From further information I gathered that the claims had been referred to the authorities in Auckland and that no reply had been received up to March 1858. As the correspondence would probably come under your notice, as pertaining to your department, I have to request that you would oblige me with some information on the nature of the claim, and correspondence and whether any steps have been taken to get the matter settled. It is a matter of very considerable importance to the Southwestern district of the Otago Province inasmuch as until it has been disposed of the formation of a town at the most convenient point of the chief harbour in that country cannot conveniently be proceeded with an perhaps you will favour me with an answer at an early convenience. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obt. servt. Jas. J. Menzies D. McLean Esqr. Auckland