Hauraki 16th April 1860 Dear McLean I hear that you have arrived in Auckland, quite recovered I hope -- I suppose you never had time to acknowledge personally or through Friend several letters I have written to you or may be they never were forwarded any further than the table in your office. How about the Taranaki affair. I think the Ass.N.Secy. made a grand mistake (supposing it to have been his suggestion) in sending to enquire into the state of the native feeling in the way it was done. I Hauraki will never meddle or join in anything Waikato way or south of it the Ngati Rahiri a portion of Ngati maru who have declared for Potatau and some of the Mawira natives, may talk as much as they please but they dont represent the feeling of Hauraki any more than I do that of the middle island if ever a native called Tauwaru Te Whewhera presents himself at the office you may look upon him as the most seditious, mischievous inhabitant of the gulf Chas.O.B.Davis excepted -- Te Whewhera has stirred up all the bad feeling that exists at present amongst the Ngati Rahiri -- With regard to land price is now the only difficulty you will see by the rough estimate enclosed what is done -- I have had a hard battle with the King party about the Waitoa land and I can tell you it required some science and some of the serpents guile but the game is won, checkmate to their king in this instance at any rate -- If you want my opinion about the king business there are three factions now Wm. Thompson Te Waharoa is head of the moderate party -- I cant write any more as I want all the ink that is left for my official letter -- Yrs. sincerely Geo.W.D.Hay