Letter from T.G.B. to Donald McLean Esq. dated 12th. July (no year date) My dear McLean, I sent the names of the gentlemen you desire put in the Commission of the Peace to the A.G. and as I have received no reply, I suppose they will be gazetted. We had a Council to consider your recommendation about trespass; but we agreed that to adopt it would be to open the door for a regular system of leasing Native Lands. At that Council we decided on adopting a measure which I will not attempt to describe, - first, because I will not trust it to the post, as we wish it to remain secret until the Proclamation appears; and secondly, - that I might not explain it clearly. I think you will like it. Smith was present at the discussion, and entirely approves. It cannot be put into force until the new land negotiations have been adopted by the Auckland Council, and I regret to say that it cannot be made to apply to the other Provinces under existing land regulations. Let me hear your opinion as soon as you get it. The Auckland Council sits to-day, and again this day fortnight. I am anxious you should employ Buller as soon as you can, (, as , as the ''Independent'' seems to say I promised to do); but in the Native Department, as a subordinate. I wrote to Featherstone, to say that I never spoke on the subject, except in his presence; and never dreamed of appointing a Native Secretary for Wellington, I have this moment, (July 11th) received your letter of 29th. June, and rejoice exceedingly that you have been successful. Stay as long as you find it necessary to do so, but remember that there are plenty of unfriendly writers, who will ascribe your remaining, to any but the right motive. Carleton is frantic at the ill success of his agitation, and at the civil manner in which the adjourned Meeting accepted my reply. He is consequently pitching into the Native Superintendent and myself as hard as he can. Fox, too, under the assumed name of Samuel Browne, is venting his spleen in the Whaaganui paper. If you see him, it would be well to throw out a hint that the name of Brown is too flimsy a disguise to deceive. But it should be only done as a joke, for such attacks are beneath either your or my notice. I have every reason to think the New Provinces Bill will be assented to, and that the Waste Lands Act will ultimately be approved, - but the latter not for some time. It is, however, evident to me, that some vast alterations will be introduced (next Session) into the New Provinces Act, - even if it is not repealed. Such a course will have no effect in Hawke's Bay; but it may prevent any new Province from obtaining emancipation, if not accomplished before the Meeting of the Assembly. Sewell has embodied his views for coloniziing Native Lands, in the form of a Bill, and I have sent it to my advisers, for their opinion. The Bishop has seen it, and approves; and I concur with trifling exceptions. I think it could only be applied to the South of a line drawn from the Waikato Heads. Do not mention this yet. Who should he hope to purchase land at Hawke's Bay, if Cooper is removed? Sir, O. Gibbs writes that a European at Wangarie can obtain the cession of a vast tract of land, if we will authorise him to do so. I have collected some statistics of the land purchased and possessed in Auckland, which rather stumped out the Committee sent to me. My kind remembrances to my good friends at Ahuriri. I shall never forget my reception there. Yours very sincerely (Signed)T.G.B. P.S. Your boy is here to-day, playing with Bradlyn, and is quite well.