Manawatu, 2nd. June, 1860. My dear Mr. McLean, I received your note of the 15th. inst. I am sorry that Nepia has not accepted the invitation to attend the meeting of Chiefs at Auckland. It is however thought by some that his presence here and at Rangitikei will be more useful than at Auckland. Te Hirawan, too is indisposed to go to the meeting, but 2 weeks ago he sent a letter addressed to the Governor in which he expressed his views on one or two subjects. I sincerely trust that the meeting will be well attended and that it will have good results. I wrote to you a letter about the end of last month in which I enclosed a plan of my reserve, drawn by Mr. Stewart and vouched by Mr. Searancke. You have not yet, I suppose, received it. I saw Mr. Robinson this afternoon, and he desired me to say, should I be writing a note to you, that he had advanced to Ihakara £1 to defray his expenses to Wellington as he had pleaded poverty and inability to start without assistance. How tiresome the, natives sometimes are. Your patience must often be severely tried by them. With kindest regards to you in which Mrs. Duncan unites, I am, My dear Mr. McLean, Yours very truly, James Duncan.