10th. Sept. 1859. Masterton. Sir, I arrived here on Wednesday last and not hearing of you as being on the Road south, propose stopping here for a week or two to assist in getting some of the Surveys of the Head of the Valley completed. The Natives are anxiously expecting you here about their lands still unsold. Some are still opposed to the sale but not very strongly not I think so much from opposition to the sale of the Land as of jealousy to the Wi Waka who wants the Lion's share of the money. The Meeting of the Natives at the Waihinga in favour of the King movement was a most decided failure but what I would strongly recommend to your attention is to have a resident Magistrate appointed for this District, the Natives are themselves most anxious to have one assisted by Native Assessors, the system appears to work satisfactorily on the West Coast and would do so here. It would also by a judicious selection give the Natives some one in authority to whom they might look up to in any difficulty. The Wairarapa appears to have been quite forgotten by the Govt. and the Natives appear to feel it so very much. The Hiriwanut is most anxiously awaiting your arrival to pay him his money. I shall not leave Masterton sooner than I can help as I should like to get all the Surveys complete here before moving elsewhere. Eraser is getting on very well surveying the lands sold to the Govt. and connecting them together so that there will be no difficulty in ascertaining when completed what lands are still in the hands of the Natives. The Natives appear to be very much depressed in spirit in the valley generally and more than half starved. 1have no authority but have been compelled to give them some food, could not some employment be found for some of them? Woudl it be out of order for me to ask whether Mr. Walter Buller has any appointment under the Native Department as Nat. Secy. If there is any one coming down the Coast, would you favour me with a line. I have/not forwarded mem. of Boundaries of Tapura pura to you as I was uncertain as to your whereabouts in fact fully expected from your letter to have seen you era this. I am Dr. Sir Yours very truly, Will N. Searancke. D. McLean. Esq.