No. 3.
The Chief Commissioner to Mr. Commissioner Rogan.
Auckland, September 12th, 1855.
Sir,—
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo, in reference to Te Tana's claim, and to the payment demanded by the Natives for the block on which that claim is included. In reference to the first point, as to a payment being made to Te Tana at Auckland, I am adverse to such a course, if it can be avoided, as I consider it preferable that the Natives should, in all instances, be paid publicly in the district where the land is situated, and this course should not be deviated from, except in particular cases, when there would be justice in adopting a different course. In every case the Natives of the district should sanction the making of the payment elsewhere.
With reference to the second point, the price demanded by the Natives, I must trust very much to your own discretion, having due regard to the public interests, as to whether you should exceed the amount to which you were limited by the instructions issued to you at Waipa. I should be glad to have your own opinion, for the information of the Governor, more fully on this subject before proceeding further in the matter.
I have, &c.,
Donald McLean,
Principal Commissioner.