"Whanganui" March 23/72 Dear Sir, I have been both surprised and annoyed at the supposition which you seem to have accepted that I have in any way been engaged in private negotiations with these Lands - in fact I cannot comprehend from what source it can have arisen - I have contrived to reduce the whole question within manageable compass, and gained at once the confidence of natives and the ear of the settlers the latter so much so that the principal men amongst them have assured me of their cordial cooperation - I trust the Govt. will not take any action on account of the course taken