Native Office. Jany. 15/74. My dear Mr. McLean, Glad to get your letters this morning. Have sent you a few letters to minute. I do not think they will cause you much trouble. How splendidly Kemp is managing his land purchase matters. He has sent in a report of a purchase made from Maihi Kawiti it is a model of perspicuity - full of information and complete. He would be the best person to manage the Northern purchases. McDonell is very unsatisfactory. I have telegraphed to Mair about cattle complained of by Urewera. We assume that they are his. Capt. Turner reports road between Whakatane and Te Teko going ahead - sixty natives at work. Puckey reports Ohinemuri road to commence today. I hope he will be carefull. I wonder whether they are stealing a march on old Te Hira and taking advantage of his absence. Sorry to say that Hopkins is seriously unwell and in Auckland - a little better when I heard last. I am getting on with office work. All my drafting work of Maori letters I do at home. I am getting a nice room fitted up in my new house for a private office. - where I shall be able to do as much of an evening as I do in a whole day here. Am very glad Petera and Keharoa are doing so well. I am very well satisfied that Petera is with you it will do him a world of good - I wish he was not so like his father. I have written to him to encourage him in giving you all the help he can. Yours faithfully, Hy. T. Clarke.