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Listen, McLean,—Let Kuri derive money from these lands alone, Port Nicholson, Wairarapa, Kaputi, Napauha, Ahahura ; but Poutama and Pararoa, let those remain. Do not let a disturbance' be created by these lands; that is all we have to say. Rules are now commenced for our disturbances; you and the Governor have heard about it; we have accepted the laws oc' the Queen. It is now right; you have sent us light, for we were in darkness. Friend McLean,—Yes, we have agreed, the whole of us. The causes of disturbances on our island have been explained to us. We have appointed here Natives to stand by the side of Mr. Shand and assist him ; the names of the Natives are :—Werimu Kingi, Rawiri Kupanhare, Kingi teoti Mana—Assessors ; Rurai Taupata—Preventive Officer. They are appointed by our assembled people with their chiefs. You will hear of it from your friends Te Puna and Wi Tako, who were present, and also the white men with them. Friend the Governor,—You will have heard of our wish that Mr. Shand may not have many European officials placed with him ; let him be the only European official for this island, for Wharekauri. Should we find his conduct improper we shall send him back, and request you to send us another in his place. Friend the Governor,—Send us a doctor; but let him be a good doctor, should he be other-? wise we will send him back. That is all. From your friend, Wiremu Kingi Meremere, And from the people living in this island in Wharekauri. True translation, (Signed) W. L. Buller, Native Interpreter.

Waitangi, 16th January, 1856. Sir,—I do myself the honor to inform you, that I have this day concluded an arrangement with the Maori population of these Islands, by which the Customs Department is now established on what I trust will be a permanent footing ; but this, in a great measure depends upon the exercise of sound judgment and discretion on your part towards the Maories, who, I am sorry to say, have by no means a favourable opinion of you at present ; and they have bound me over by a solemn promise, before allowing me to establish the Customs, that his Excellency the Governor will remove you from being Collector of Customs of these Islands, on a well grounded complaint being preferred against you by the Maori population generally. I need hardly point out to you how easily this may be avoided, and the affections of a petulant race secured by the exercise of great patience and forbearance, and by cultivating their acquaintance and friendship upon all suitable occasions. I have appointed Toenga Te Poki and Naira Pomare, to be Preventive Officers in the service, at a salary of fifty pounds sterling per annum each ; I have not selected these men myself, but requested the Maories to do so ; they are men of influence among them, and will render you such valuable assistance that, in my opinion, the collection of the Revenue of Customs will henceforth be comparatively an easy matter. I have directed them to place themselves entirely under your control, and I trust you will give them such clear instructions as will enable them to perform their duties in a satisfactory manner, especially in cases of seizure of goods illegally landed, and that vou will dispose of such seized goods at the earliest possible period the law allows, so that the seizing officer may obtain his moiety of the net proceeds at an early period; nevertheless, the sanction of his Excellency the Governor must in all cases be obtained previous co the distribution of any such seizure. I have also informed the Maories generally, that any one of them may detain goods landed without Entry, until the arrival of one of the Preventive Officers, who will either release or seize the goods as the case may require, or as you shall instruct; and, in case of seizure, the detaining Maori or Maories shall be entitled to one-half of the seizing officer's share: this being a slight departure from the rules of the service, will require the confirmation or disallowance of his Excellency the Governor, of which I will take care to inform you ; in the meantime, it will be quite proper for you to act upon it until further orders. I have appointed Waitangi to be the Port of Entry for these Islands, and rented a house from Warapa, at .£.lO per annum, for you as a Custom House ; and I recommend you to approve a suitable building for a Bonding Warehouse whenever one is offered for that purpose. I believe it is the intention of more than one trader to import iron houses, one of which wi J be perh.ips the best building you can select, and when approved, be kind enough to inform me by the first opportunity, so that the usual notice may appear in the Government Gazette. I have to request you will be kind enough to give your opinion freely on these arrangements