Stapleton Coromandel May 6th 1858 My dear Sir I have just heard from Mr Spirer who arrived here yesterday that you have arrived in Auckland I therefore take the earliest opportunity to write you a note I will also send you a report of proceeding as regards the land purchas it will put you in possession of a knowledge how things stand and what are the future prospects I do so more particularly because it may happen that before you may be able to communicate with me on that subject you may require information for the satisfaction of the Government or the General Assembly and I think that my letter will give some information that will be usefull Paora te Putu is in a difficulty and I think that he will not be able to get out of it without the sale of land he will I beleive endeavour to get a loan from the Government but I should strongly recommend that he should not receive any I am only waiting the arrival of Mr Heaphy and I will get him to give me an estimate of the quantity of the Block of Paoras land at the Gold diggins I shall then recommend to your office that a certain sum be given for it which I think Paul would accept I think that there is about 5 thousand acres in for which I think the Government ought to give £1000 it is not right to estimate the land here at what it can be bought in other districts as the natives make a great deal of money from their Kauri they sell each tree at from 10s to £1 per tree and I have known a tree when the sawyers have cut in 10 that the value of the same tree has brought £5 12s I think that it would be well to adopt the scale for this district proposed by me in my last letter I am waiting for an answer to the same Please to excuse haste believe me to remain yours truly James Preece D. McLean Esq