Auckland 1 August 1871 My dear Mr.MacLean By this Mail I send a Draft of a Bill for consolidating and amending the Laws relating to the Native Land Court. The papers accompanying the Draft will furnish, I hope, all the explanation that Members may need as to the Measure itself. To yourself I desire to address one further remark. The Draft Bill which I received from Mr.Fenton is to my judgment an obscure and entangled document and unnecessarily so. No effort has been spared to collect and consolidate all the provisions that are really necessary and to present them in a clear and definite form. The labour has been heavy, as you will readily believe. Now I do not wish to have it thrown away which I fear it will be if Mr. Fenton's Draft is printed and this not so. You know well how difficult it is to get men and consider patiently any moderately long M.S. What I pray therefore is that you will get the Draft and the papers accompanying it printed for the consideration of the Members. With all best wishes I remain Yours very truly Wm. Martin The Honble.Dd. MacLean etc. etc.