Wanganui 1846 My dear Sir, I very much regret to have heard since my return from Tunuhaere that at a public meeting held here some reflections have been made respecting your interference in matters connected with the settlers and natives and that the land claimed by Mawai has been entirely at your instigation. I can only say that with reference to such matters as I know the merits of I am exceedingly sorry the persons making these assertions had not more consideration for you as a gentleman independent of the respect due you as their clergyman. The principal accusations I hear of is Mawa's claim and certainly it does not in the least coincide with the persuasion you in my presence used with that chief when perambulating the boundary to forego his right to whatever portion of it effected the settlers and he at the time blamed you for desiring to deprive him of land to grow food for his tribe and children. It has also been rumoured that you and I have disagreed on certain subjects whilst enquiring into native affairs it is true that I may not have taken the same view of the Wangahu claim as you have for instance you suppose Mawai has a right of chieftanship over that district this I am unwilling to admit as they are the few in number entirely independent of any of the Wanganui tribes. This I believe has never been spoken of by us till after you mentioned the matter to Dr. Wilson to whom I observed that I did not agree with you in acknowledging Mawai's claim to that land I afterwards spoke to yourself on the subject when you took a view fully in accordance with my own as to the justice of the claim and said you were yourself the first person at this place that recognized it. I remain My dear Sir, truly yours, Donald McLean