Bulls, August 31st 1875 Sir Donald McLean Wellington. Dear Sir, In accordance with instructions received in your letter of the 12th inst. I rode to Parewanui and saw Hunia and Ruta and requested them to sign your lease of ''Ngataraua'' they complained of not having received any portion of the rent paid on a/c of the former lease, and consequently are asking a bonus of £200 to sign the present one, I pointed out to them that they should have asked the other grantees for their fair share of the money at the time the old lease was in existance, to which they replied that it was on account of their good feeling towards the other natives that they had not done so, that being the case I again mentioned that it could in no way effect this lease and that they should still apply to the other grantees for their fair share of the present rent, and as they had elected to make the other natives a present of the former rent you were in no way responsible for it, as it was their own wish to do so. Dr. Buller has not yet arrived here, but will probably be at Whangaehu at a meeting of the Ngatiapa which is to be held there shortly respecting the sale of the ''Otamakapua Block'' and I will then be able to see him and Hunia together, and if Hunia still demands the £200 I will point out to Dr. Buller that Hunia should apply to the other grantees for his share of the money instead of trying to extort £200 more than the amount of the rent which evidently must be a fair rental or the nine other grantees would not have accepted it especially as they also have solicitors employed at Napier to watch their interests in such matters. Hunia also informed me that he had demanded £200 from you while at Wellington, to which you replied it was a great deal too much, if there is any proposal you have to make if you will either write or telegraph to me I will lose no time in conveying it to Hunia and will also use any influence I may have with him in trying to have the matter settled fairly. You can depend upon my having the lease executed properly as I think I have the 85 section of the Nat. Lands act off by heart. I must thank you for your warm acknowledgment of the slight service I have rendered you in this matter. I am, Yours very respectfully John Stevenes