R.M. Court, Russell 5th October 1870 My dear Sir I wish to call your attention to the childish state of mind gradually coming over our old friend Tamati Waka:- to give you an instance or two - some six months ago a carpenter induced Waka to order a whale-boat, the old man already having more of these than he knows what to do with, or crews to man, this freak cost £40 - again - notwithstanding my remonstrances, and against his own better judgement, he has allowed Charles De Thierry to talk him into having a large block of land called ''Te Puru'' lying between Keri Keri and Hokianga, surveyed - I cautioned Mr.Fisher, the Surveyor, before he commenced operations, and refused to advance the funds he applied for, but De Thierry persuaded Waka at last, and the work was undertaken, but will take some months yet to complete: the Survey party are now up here dunning the old man for a payment on account: I dare say that the entire cost will be over £200 and there is no probability of the land finding a purchaser - again - two days ago a vessel landed on the beach a quantity of timber and shingles for Waka, who was said to have ordered them, but certainly had lost all recollection of having done so, and had no use for the articles. I can manage well enough as far as the stores in the place are concerned, having given notice to the respective proprietors that they must not give him excessive credit: if left to his own devices he would sometimes purchase an entire stock-on trade, but do not know how to protect him from being plundered by outsiders - Ruth does her best to control him, but she is occasionally away at the ''ruahinga'' etc. and then he launches out: he is becoming rather touchy and testy too, about being advised or interfered with, which never was his wont - Maihi Kawiti has reduced his demand for the rent of the 2 acres required by the Goal Co. to £60 per acre - I believe that Maihi is the owner, and cannot pass the land through the Native Lands Court - the real proprietor being Tamati Pukututu, son of the old chief of that name, whose ''pa'' it was when old Rawiti occupied Kororareka, and who continued to hold it both at the time of our operations against Ruapekapeka, and long subsequently. I have just spoken to Mr. Carleton who was here at Petty Sessions two days ago, but heard no Wellington news from him - The Natives here are all quiet and peaceable the few Hauhaus who had located themselves at Ngunguou have been ejected. I heard that ''Ahau'' Maning intends to stand for for Northern Maori District, but do not know what the constituency think of it - Believe me to remain My dear Sir Yours very truly R.C. Barstow Hon. D. McLean