New Plymouth October 7th. 1850. Dear McLean, I received your letter dated 26th. ulto, by the Overland Mail on Saturday last; and was sorry to find that you intended to bend your course to the S.E.; for your services as a Commissioner for purchasing land from the natives, were never required more at Taranaki than at present. I hear from Mr. Weston that we are to have, 25 Emigrants per "Mariner", and 100 more by the June ship. But how they are to be disposed of is a question that puzzles the best calculators. All the Company's land is taken up, and applications made by the settlers for permission to select on our Cattle Run. Surely if we persevere, we can get more from the natives. Why not purchase that which I have so often mentioned to you, between the Waitara and Orunui; and the Bell Block might be given out without further loss of time.