between themselves and the settlers adjusted and I believe that the greatest difficulties in connexion with this purchase may now be considered as fairly conquered. Capt.Smith and Mr.Tullys home stations comprising about 800 acres on which with paddocks and improvements there has been an expenditure of £1000 has been secured for £100. Owing to the flood on the Tauwharenikau the messengers from Wellington did not arrive until late yesterday evening when I was at Capt.Smiths settling with the natives for that place. The instructions from Wellington enable me now to ensure Capt.Smiths services on the same terms as lessrs.Park and Fitzgerald, and this will greatly facilitate the surveys. I shall always esteem it as an act of great condescension and kindness on the part of Your Excellency to have proposed my health as you have done at a public dinner at Wellington it is one of those circumstances that I may have occasion to look back to in future years with infinite satisfaction. I remain, My dear Sir George, Yours very faithfully, Donald McLean His Excellency Sir George Grey K.C.B.