Auckland, 31 Decr., 1849. My Dear Sir, I have just received your interesting letter of the 18th containing curious information respecting the never ending and puzzling claims of the natives to land. There seem to be every shade of claim from down right certainty to the mere shadow of a shade and I daresay you find that the more slender the right is the more violent and noisy is the demand for payment. Such practice as you have had in these matters will no doubt make a skilful negociater of you at last, if they do not worry you into premature old age. The subject of the mortality and diminution of the Natives is one of very great interest and I hope you will continue to observe and note whatever may help to throw light on it. Sir George of course will be with you when you receive this, and I have returned to you several Requisitions which I beg you will lay before him for his approval in order that as much delay as possible in the payment of the expenses may be avoided. You will see by the Newspapers that Her Majesty visited Glasgow and was received enthusiastically. The arrangements for her reception were excellent and she Knighted the Provost now Sir James Anderson. News lately from England except perhaps that the Russians have overcome the poor Hungarians is small. People here are all making themselves merry during the festivities of this season, and as this is the last day of the year, and of the first half of the century let me wish you many returns of the season. I remain, My dear Sira, Yours truly, A. Sinclair.