Maketu June 6th. 1856, My dear Mr. McLean, You will expect a line from me by the return of the "Wawata". We had a pleasant run down here of little more than two days and anchored off the river on Sunday morning. Mr. Chapman, much to my disappointment, is absent on a missionary trip down the coast, and is not expected home for a week or more, so that I shall not see him. All is quiet here; everybody is busy up the river cutting and getting out timber for a new chapel and other buildings in contemplation; among them, a "Whare Runanga" or House of Assembly (!!) where all public matters are to be discussed by the statesmen of the Arawa. With our redoubtable friend Tohi, I suppose, as prime minister. Our troublesome friend Topine Tukihaumene was much pleased to receive your note acknowledging his good offices at Manaia with reference to the powder and talks of paying Te Kowarehua another visit to try and induce him to give up the stolen property - hoping, if successful, to make it the ground of a renewed application to the Government for assistance in his daily project of a mill. I have neither encouraged nor dissuaded him but left him to follow his own bent in the matter. He is exceedingly anxious that the first two pair of millstones coming to Auckland should be secured and has worried me into promising that I would write to you to this effect. £20 have been left in the lands of Te Ao for this purpose and uki thinks he can raise £30 here, now, and the remainder, in the course of 6 months, by going to Katikati to dig Kauri gum. The old man is nervously anxious to have tha 'mana' of the undertaking and so far I am quite willing to humour him, but think the Maketu people have their hands too full already and might be content to wait awhile for their mill. I am ashamed to bother you with this knowing how fully your attention is occupied but I promised old Tuki I would mention it to you. As far as I have been able to ascertain the feeling here with reference to the Tawera affair, all seem greatly to admire and approve of the forbearance shewn by the Government, which has caused the offending tribe to become contemptible in the eyes of all - as they express it "kua mokaitia". I shall be anxious to hear the next news from Auckland and what has been done by the General Assembly. I suppose I shall receive some official answer to my last letter applying to be allowed travelling expenses etc. If I am required to travel, some allowance is absolutely necessary My letter of appointment requires only that I "reside at Rotorua, and visit Maketu occasionally". Also, If I move out to the coast, something should be allowed towards the expence, which will be very great - but I suppose I shall hear officially on all these matters. I am still suffering greatly from influenza and its attendant depression but hope to get round again after a week or two rest at home which I expect to reach on Tuesday next - having been detained here by the late gale. Pray excuse this hasty scrawl and accept again my sincere thanks for your kindness to me when in Auckland and your promise to keep my interest in view in the event of any opening occuring which might give me the opportunity of charging my location to Auckland r Wellington. I am My dear Mr. McLean, Yours very sincerely, Thos. H. Smith. D. McLean, Esquire J.P. Auckland.