Te Mata 22nd Feby. 1860 Dear McLean I hope that you have quite recovered from your illness and that you will give old Taraia's memory a jog about his share in the Ngatae business with the exception of his promises and his declared intention of devouring all the I can make nothing of him, he is all ago about going to Kapiti and some large sum he is to get as his share of the purchase money of land in the south. I know of no land which he could sell without the consent of many other natives and in this respect he falls far short of Te Moana Nuii, as natives would oppose Taraea in many instances where they would never dream of opposing the other - but again with regard to a great portion of Waihou land Taraea's consent is indispensable, he wont take the iniative and the natives look to him as his of turning kai pakapaka means the lions share he has put himself and his land up at the modest price of e rua tau tini. I have had a great deal of trouble in working up the natives about the Waitou land and that dumb opposition which is alwaya most troublesome, meeting you when you least expect it has been much in vogue. I wish you and the Government would do something about the leasing the very fact of its getting so much talked about amongst the natives leads to comparisons that are fatal in some instances to land purchase the failure of the potatoe crops in the Waihou and Piako makes it more difficult for my work as the cry of short commons discourages the land sellers they cant meet and talk without plenty of food, it also serves as a war cry for the opposition party - one is never sure of anything with natives till the last moment but I think the time and expense spent on the Waitou negotiations will meet with its reward in the quantity to say nothing of the footing there which I consider the most important as from there only can we attack the Upper Waihou land. I have no official communications since the 20th Decr. They have miscarried and I cannot find out where they are. Yrs. very sincerely Geo.W. Drummond Hay