Manawatu Oct. 26th. 1850 My dear Sir, Knowing that you like to become acquainted with anything particular that may occur in the district where you have so lately been occupied; I beg to forward you the substance of an interesting and important (as regards the authority of the Government) conversation I have just had with E Hakara. In the first place he asked me whether I knew when E. Hart was going to remove from the Mouth of the river, my answer, that I had nothing whatever to do with it. He then told me that he had spoken to the Lieut, Govr. and said to him, the Magistrates, Mr. McLean and Major Durie have ordered this man away and he takes no notice of it. Mr. McLean often tells us that the Magistrates have power and the Europeans here often threaten to apply to a Magistrate but when we see your own people disobey how can you expect the Natives to pay attention to the orders of the Magistrate? I beg you to believe that I do not write the above to you from any personal motives, but I consider the question of maintaining the respect of the Natives to the Magistracy and Government so important that I have ventured to communicate the preceding conversation to you. I trust you will consider this letter as written for your own eyes only, Yours sincerely and obliged, John M. Best. no te 7 o Mei 1851 kia te Makarini e hoa tena koe he rahi toku aroha kia koe i tenei po i tenei rangi ka Wehea nei hoki ta ua mehemea rawa ko te Wehenga i a rangi raua kopa pa e hoa tena koe nui noa atu taku aroha kia ara ki toku hoa aroha hoki tenei taku taku kupu ki a koe kia tuturu mau tonu ta koru a wakaaro ko ka Wana kirunga ki ta matou nei i karanga atu ai monga utu o to matou wenua ara ki te 4 mano ki te 8 rau ko te ara hei unga mai mo nga utu hei tuingara hei te Ware o tipene hei ka Wenga mai ki te Wai pukurau nei ta nga ai he waiata mehe poko koe e ma e kai arohi nei i a hau, kamutu naku na to hau aroha Na te Hapuku mau te Waka aro ki te tangata he he atu i taku pukapu ka ki a koe.