Bull's Inn Rangitikei 21st Decr. 1870 Dear Mr. McLean I have just come in from the Upper, or what might be known as Ngawaka's Reserve. The extent will I think be considerable, but the back is very broken, and the Flats below are often swept by heavy Floods and in some instances the Soil has been entirely removed and the Natives compelled to abandon their settlements and cultivations. Very little of the low ground but what has been reclaimed by hand labor and the more I have seen, the more I exclaim at the absence of anything like a systematic enquiry into the then existing Claims of the Natives, whether as sellers or non sellers. On Friday I shall proceed to Kakariki for the purpose of fixing the Southern Boundary, and I expect to have some little trouble with Ngawaka, but the young men will support anything that is reasonable. Kawana Hunia was present at our meeting at the Top - and if I am not mistaken, the outer Boundary of all of the Block is a point yet to be settled by Featherstone and Buller I am to see him here by appointment tomorrow. I sent you some Telegrams today which please reply to - In the case of the Makowhai, and the Maramaihoea Pa, I do not see any objection and it will be the means of admitting a good many stragglers - With regard to Cap. Daniel's place, it seems to me, that unless a bona fide preemptive right exists he should be satisfied with the large Paddock between 3 and 400 acres, which the Natives are quite willing to leave, but beyond that they also wish to have a little frontage to the River, which they cannot very well get elsewhere - The Fence has I think be put up more as a hold upon the land than for holding Stock. From what I have seen and heard, nothing but hard fighting wd. have induced the Natives to have given up. We are all suffering from very bad colds - something of an Epidemic - but hope to finish in about ten days time. Believe me Yours faithfully H. T. Kemp P.S. I called at Mr. Foxs but found him from home.