Friend, the Kuri, With best wishes to you and your wife, Rangihuia, who are living at your distant residence of Motu-Karumu. Your letter to the Turton and myself has come to hand, respecting your Father's curse. It is true, I believe the aged man has not been hitherto cursed. It was wrong and thoughtless to have done so towards a Chief for whom there ought to have been greater respect. It cannot be now helped; as the thoughts of the man that did so are little thoughts. Let yours, however, be good and wise, as those of a greater mind. My ideas are that he who does an injury should be alone responsible. At the same time, I will advise the natives of this place to arrange the matter that they may live peaceably, and shew their good disposition towards you and your Father. But as they have not large articles of property, they cannot give any. The Europeans have not injured you. Their dispositions are those of friendship towards you and your Father, as well as to all of the people of Waikato, from end to end. You are all a people that I have a regard for; and had you been wronged in any way by Europeans, it would be my duty to have spoken to them to make right the difference. But this has not been so. Neither shall I say a word to them respecting it; but will recommend the natives to both of you, and hope friendship may dwell amongst all of us. From your friend, (Signed) McLean. . . Ngamotu. January 22 1846. Friend, the Kuri, Wishing you and your Father, who live at the Paripari and Motukarumu well. Friend, the doings of your own man of little thought are bad to curse his Chief, not remembering that through Taonui's kindness, he has been safely returned to his land, and now giving trouble. By our customs, the party who commits an offence is alone answerable for it. The people generally, had nothing to do with this. When your letter reached the Turton and myself, we spoke to the Waitara natives, who collected money for you, which is our greatest treasure. Yours is Greenstone; and ours is what you are now receiving. There are eight pounds in money, and some shillings, with pieces of greenstone, clothing, guns, and various other things; as you will see when they reach you. That is all from this poor man. What more can he send? It is not as if he had sold land. Then he might have quantities of goods, horses, and other articles. This is not so. He has not got anything. Let not any of you suppose that these things that are sent you are from the Europeans. No,- they are their own. All have done was the Turton and myself having talked to them. This is another word from me to yourself and your Father. Let not Tapu the road against Europeans. This is a strange practice. Rather, let the Europeans go and come as they wish; as they have had nothing to do with the matter; and your customs have existed amongst yourselves even before we landed here. I should rather think that Taonui ought to seek after Chieftainlike conduct; that his thoughts be great and good, doing kindness to all