Minute.
As Mr. Commissioner McLean has arrived in this district, the best course, I think, will be at once to relieve the, Surveyor-General from the duty of making purchases of land from the Natives, and to instruct the Commissioner to make purchases, absolutely and unconditionally; but not to make any arrangements which might, be looked upon as an evasion or an infringement of the New Zealand Constitution Act, or of the Land Regulations of the 4th of March, issued by Governor Grey.—Wm. Swainson, Attorney-General. 26th April, 1854.