Private. August 12, /70. My dear McLean, 1. With respect to the despatch from home No. 45, wh. you have now got, pray let me have a mem. soon, saying how much of the land at Mt. Cook the Col. Govt. wish to take, and what price they will give for it. As to the land at Auckland it is agreed that the Col. Govt. willpay for it what the Imperial Govt. originally gave. The enclosed shows the allotments. I certainly think the ought to be made over to the Colony for If you will put into your memm. an expression to that effect, saying that the concession wd. have a conciliating effect here, now that the Colony is making such sacrifices on the East Coast for the protection of the loyal Natives from the rebels etc. - I will back it up strongly. 2. I have received the enclosed note from Capt. Brigham, the superseded Captain of the 'Virago'. I have spoken to Commodore Lambert about it, and he says that the 'Virago' did not render any special services at Tauranga, beyond those rendered by the other ships that have been there for a longer time, such as the 'Rosario'. The services of the ships have been frequently acknowledged in despatches and already published in the Parliamentary Papers. I imagine nothing special can be said abt. 'Virago'; and we had better not interfere directly or indirectly, between the Admiralty and its own officers. Pray return the enclosed. Yrs. G. F. Bowen.