Native Secretary's Office. Auckland. 1st. December 1860. Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of yesterday's date, kindly offering to submit my name to Her Majesty, as one of the Members of the Native Council. I beg to express my thanks to your Excellency for this mark of your appreciation. It would have afforded me much pleasure to assist in carrying out any measures calculated either for the improvement of the natives, or the advancement of the Colony; but I do not perceive that either of these objects are likely to be attained by the Native Council Act, in its present form. It occurs to me that the Native Council, to effect any substantial good, should have full administrative powers in the management of native affairs, and that a certain number of leading Chiefs should be admitted as Members of the Council. A fixed sum of the Colonial Revenue should be set apart for a period of 20 years for native purposes. Unless there is some tangible provision of this kind made for the management of native affairs, I cannot conceive what good the council, whose advice may, or may not, be taken, is likely to effect. Under these circumstances I feel impelled to decline the offer made by your Excellency. I have etc. etc. (Signed) Donald McLean. To:- His Excellency, Col. T. G. Browne C.B. Auckland.