Hokianga. Septr.12, 74. My dear McLean, I received with great pleasure yours of the 28th. August, as it seems like a freshing up of old acquaintance. As soon as I see the amended act I shall at once try to get some one to take the place of District officer. There is not however one single person I can think of in the north who might be either able or willing except perhaps William Webster who is a well informed man and with sufficient experience in native affairs his only fault is that he is something to slow going I however have enough devil in me for both and might drive him when required - as for Campbell he could not possibly do the duties as laid down in the act unless he gave up his professional business which he would not be likely to do I shall see him today and find what he thinks of it. I held a court the other day here there were between forty and fifty claims but only a few (except succession claims) were passed and those only such as happened to have been surveyed last year. It turned out when the investigations began to be made that in no single instance have the natives taken any steps to survey any of their claims since the 1st. January, nor has one single new claim been sent in from any of the northern districts to my office since that date. The Chief told me in court that is is not their intention to survey their claims under the present act. I have a long list of claims on hand which should have been done with long ago had I not been away at Napier and Auckland on various engagements I am about to cause four or five Courts to be advertised one after the other with as little interval between each as possible and hope for some letter results than on the last occasion at all events I shall see what can be done I believe if the natives were allowed to employ their own surveyors as formerly that before very long there would be a great deal done. At all events you may depend implicitly that I am going to do my best to work the Act and a few months will shew what the result will be, and you may also depend that the same hour that I am satisfied I cannot work it I shall send my resignation, as I could not possibly accept of the public money for services I am unable to perform. The Judges having had their say, there is an end to that, they are now going in for , at least I know very well am, and after I have had a little sitting which is to take place here on the 29th. instant I shall advertise four or five courts at which upwards of a hundred claims of one sort or another will be called and as you seem to take so much interest in the matter I shall, with your permission, let you know from time to time in a unofficial way what progress is being made or likely to be made. Your Land purchase men have bought, or are buying, a splendid district which will one day be the garden of the north. They are also buying some land which is bad enough. However as the good land is cheap and the bad costs not much the whole will be a most valuable acquisition. I have heard the claims to two of the best blocks but could not quite conclude for want of the survey plans which are not yet ready, to one of the blocks there are many claimants who are objected to by the sellers and there was a great deal of contention in the court but I do not anticipate any very serious difficulty when the plans are ready and I take another beat at it. I propose hearing all those Government land purchase Claims at a separate court after I have got rid of the others which I have mentioned this will give time for the surveys to be completed and plans made. The Claims for these blocks were all sent in last year. In the case of Government land purchases I pereive that natives make claims in opposition on the very slight grounds and such as they would not have done otherwise the fact is they believe the money of the Government is quite inexhaustible and that it is all fair to get what they can right or wrong as no one in their estimation is any the worse for it no matter what they get. I am rather in a bad case just now as I have lamed one of my feet by an accident I shall not let it stop me from driving on the courts for I shall go though I have to hop all the way to the North Cape. I shall be curious to see the effect the peopling of all the Government lands in the north will have as regards the natives if this is done and the Pake has as I suppose are to be mostly new men you will want for the first two or three years a good R.M. to look after both parties. I entirely agree with you in your estimate of the Australian colonies you however did not see Tasmania a most picturesque country with a climate quite as healthy and far more pleasant than that of New Zealand - fancy the change that has taken place since I used to camp where Mlbourn now stands on my hunting and turkey shooting expeditions from Tasmania where there was not a single person there but myself and companions and when settlement was not even thought of. Bateman the place some considerable time afterwards. I don't know how it comes but although having made but little progress of late in the Land Court doings the office and other work is increasing to such a degree that I am obliged to keep at it twelve hours a day week after week and month after month or everything would get in arrear I have a Clerk allowed me now under the new Act and I believe he is a good one but it would take me twice as long to shew him how to do anything as to do it myself, and so I have never employed him yet. I dare say if I can succeed in getting things going again to any purpose I may find some work for him I wish you all manner of success and remain as ever Yours very sincerely, F.E. Maning.