Wellington 4 Jany. 1866 Dear McLean I had purposed replying to your private notes at length - out find myself without a moment to spare just as the mail is about to close - One subject is paramount - viz - how to deal with any land confiscated already or which may hereafter be so - You appear to believe that such lands may be so dealt with as to repay to the Colony the cost (or at least a large portion of it) of the operations which led to the confiscation I confess I can't see how this is to be done - I don't beleive any direct profit whatever will accrue from the disposal of these lands after providing compensation, reserves for natives, milt.settlers etc. If we can so settle them as to make them self supporting and self defending we shall have done the very utmost that any plan to likely to acheive! Think this matter over seriously - it is the largest question we have to deal with both in its financial and political bearings - Any support that by means of any existing law, or any law likely to be passed by the Legtive., can be given to a really good and safe scheme I will most earnestly give. No time for more. Faithfully yrs. E.W. Stafford