Manawatu, 7th Augt., 1849. Sir, Paratine Ihakara and Wereta have informed me this morning that you have purchased from Mr. Compton the house which he occupied at "Kutikutira" and that you intend to locate a European with his wife and family at that place. The above natives appear quite opposed to the establishment of any other European than Mr. Compton at Kutikutira therefore I should recommend you not to encourage any Europeans to settle there in opposition to the wishes of the natives more especially in the present unsettled state of the land question in the district. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servt. (Signed) Donald McLean, Inspector of Police. James Cook, Esq. Manawatu. Manawatu, 7 Augt., 1849 Mr. Burr. Can I trouble you to come down to the Rev. Mr. Duncans tomorrow forenoon as I am desirous to have some conversation with you respecting the land question. Yours truly, Donald McLean. Manawatu, 6th Augt., 1849. Sir, I have the honor to report to you for the information of His Excellency the Lieut.Governor that on the 23rd ult., three days subsequent to the receipt of your letter of the 10th July I left Wanganui for Manawatu having on my way staked out and defined the boundaries of a native reserve at Otakapo near some fishing lagoons situated about half way between the Turakina and Rangitikei rivers. I next visited the Rangitikei natives at Parawanui to enquire into some misunderstanding that had arisen between one of these natives and Mr. Skipworths overseer respecting the land on which Mr. Skipworths sheep were placed. Before proceeding to detail this case I must briefly notice the causes in which the difference originated. 1st. The Ngatiapa tribe were generally under an impression that on Europeans arriving in their district they as the original proprietors of the ceded country should unite themselves with them for mutual protection and that they should consequently reap every advantage to be derived from the erection of houses and other employments the settlers might require entirely excluding other district tribes from participating in such employment and even quarrelling among themselves as to who should have the right of claiming the first Pakehas or Europeans who should settle at the Rangitikei. 2nd. While the Ngatiapa were at Wanganui receiving the first instalment of purchase money for their land a European in the employ of Mr. John Wede at Porirua arrived at Rangitikei and agreed with a native named Panapa and the Ngatirangatahi since they abandoned the Hutt after the late war (who are a distinct tribe from the Ngatiapa and squatters on the south bank of the Rangitikei) to erect a house for Mr. Wede which was accordingly done the Ngatiapa, on returning to Rangitikei were surprized to find that before they had scarcely handled the "Utu" for their land a house was built on it and they naturally doubted the Europeans authority for such a hasty and ill advised proceeding informing him at the same time that they objected to the erection of the house till they should ascertain whether he had come there by the sanction of Govt., having been previously informed that no European should lease squat or hold lands without such sanction. The chief cause