Napier 5th. June, 1871. My dear Sir, I am in receipt of yours of the 29th. ult. and regret the want of success that has attended the opening of the mail route, especially when so many of the Hauraki tribes professed to be in favour of it. Dr. Pollen thinks the mail can be brought by way of Hikutaia. I certainly expected better results. Respecting the cession of land for the Govt. for the purpose of gold mining including a large portion of the Aroha the information you give is so meagre that I am unable to act upon it without more explicit information on the following points. Is the cession by H. Taipari and 3 others supposed to represent the large body of natives of the Mamatahu who own this block and would a secret cession of this small party not predjudice the acquisition of the rights of remaining clients? Would the Waikatos not be ready while te Aroha case is under reference for rehearing to resent by force of arms if necessary any premature session of this nature? this is really the important point and one which requires the most careful study and consideration; anxious as I feel for opening up the island you refer to, it must be done is such a manner as to avoid tribal comlications calculated to involve the district in litigation and endless difficulties. The advantages of such a cession would be very great if free from the difficulties to which I have adverted, but I need not tell you that the advantages wd. not compensate for the consequences that might flow from a partially considered negotiation. Mr. Clarke will be in Auckland in a few days, and you shld. at once confer with him on the subject by going to Auckland whenever he arrives there. You shd. shew Mr. Clarke this letter. I remain etc. Donald McLean. E. Puckey, Esq. ,Thames.