COPY Wanganui Saturday 6 June 1846 My dear Sir, I received your letter of this morning requesting me to remain here till Monday and willingly agree to do so as I have been myself up to the present moment apprehensive the natives would take offence at the sudden withdrawal of the compensation money and departure of Mr. Symonds who requested me to explain to them the reasons of his departure were from exorbitant demands on the part of a few of a desire to refer the matter. That it has a dissatisfaction amongst them is certain as they have had so much trouble in walking round boundaries pointing out their several claims besides having collected from distant parts of the district having collected in large numbers in expectation of the money being paid over to them. I am glad however to observe that since the meeting of yesterday which you kindly attended with the principal chiefs at your station that all the natives have behaved in a most becoming and friendly manner and have every confidence that whilst your exertions on behalf of the settlers and natives are continued that both parties will enjoy the same peace and tranquility which you have been the principal cause of promoting and tho not a resident here beyond the time that I have been employed during my visit in the performance of my duties amongst both settlers and natives. I feel it but Rev. R. Taylor. due to you to express that I should at least express my thankfulness and gratitude. I feel the least I can do before leaving this place is to express the pleasure it gives me to observe that each time I have been here a very perceptible and marked imp rovement in the conduct of the natives towards the settlers and have only to add that which all of them that I am acquainted with testify that had it not been for your endeavours the Wanganui settlement would never have prospered or I may say even existed from the strong aversion the natives had to the settlement of Europeans amongst them previous to your residence here. In the performance of your mission I wish you every success and hope when the present panic and sensation about land claims has subsided that all your parishioners here may express the same unanimous testimony of their gratitude towards you on that account alone independent of your being their pastor and I believe amongst the native tribes your worth is so fully acknowled that no better proof can be given than the desire all of them evince to see you amongst them the Taupo natives sending for you as their adviser since the death of their good old chief will be the means of greatly extending your influence in that heathen portion of the Island and arduous as your duties are in your own extensive district it must be gratifying for you to find a desire amongst such distant tribes to acknowledge you as their parent and instructor and in the hope that severe as this season of the year is for such a long journey you will be preserved in health to accomplish it. I remain sincerely D. McL