Wanganui May 21, 1857. Dear McLean, I am sorry we have not yet seen you in this part, your presence is required and a visit would be very seasonable. There are two things which cause me continual anxiety, first the way the natives are treated both by the Provincial govt. and the settlers in general; next the efforts made to demoralize the natives by inducing them to drink and their success. Intoxication is daily becoming more general and the rising generation more debased. Every effort is being made to induce the native to sell his land and yet he is treated as a dog. I very much fear the good feeling which has hitherto been entertained by the natives towards the Europeans will give, way, especially as we have some on our bench who are ready on the slightest cause or misunderstanding to arrest and throw into prison the greatest chief, that it was only the other day when Mawai opposed the Road surveyors who were marking out the line through his land that he was threatened with being put into prison! This wanton and inconsiderate way of offending those who have been our warmest friends gives us much pain. So Hori Kingi when he and I succeeded in obtaining the horse of a man named White which had been detained by the Patea natives from an idea they had and still have that he drove off one of their oxen, and Hori Kingi of his own accord to keep the peace paid down the fine inflicted by the bench out of his pension, so far from receiving thanks both he and I were insulted and a violent attack made upon us in our precious Wanganui Chronicle edited by Mr. Wicksteed and poor Hori, all he has got for his kindness is the probable loss of ten pounds. It is evident that sooner or later serious results will arise. I may only mention a circumstance which occurred last night, the man who has built our mill at Putiki, a most wretched affair, for which he had been already well paid, has sent them in a long bill although his contract is not fulfilled and threatens to take it to the supreme court. The natives went to Major Durie to meet him there but he did not make his appearance. Last night John Williams saw him riding through the pa he requested him to come and speak to me as he had also taken away some of the iron work so that the natives could not work at the mill. The man refused, John pressed and when he whipped his horse to go on, John held the bridle. The man jumped off and John held him by the wrist and entreated him to come to me he broke away and went off and left his horse. John came to me, I told him he should not have touched either the horse or his rider, a boy was immediately sent after him with his horse and we followed. We had not long been at the ferry before we saw him approaching with the corporal of the police to whom he gave John in charge for stealing his horse. I said he might as well charge him with attempting to steal him also as he held him by the wrist as well as the horse by the bridle. I spoke to him on the absurdity of his charge, and at last he was ashamed and gave it up. Poor John had a narrow escape from the lockup and had he been taken there a serious quarrel would have been the certain result and most probably an outbreak but there is no security for the future. The same may occur any day. I am happy to say I have met with a school master who will I think be very useful he is very anxious about working the flax. I enclose Mr. Porter's plan of the school land which I trust will enable the grant to be made out. The previous one of the mission premises was made to Arch. W. Williams, Arch. adfield and myself as trustees for the church missionary society, so I suppose this will be in our names also. I wish you could get the inspector of mills to pay us a visit. It would be very seasonable. All my family circle unite in very kind remembrances and believe me, Dear Mr. McLean, Very sincerely yours, Richd. Taylor. P.S. Cecil is working in good earnest on his land and is very diligent. His heart is in his work and I trust he will get on.