[...] is both correct, and amusing, and reminds me of many troublesome, ridiculous, and sometimes risky episodes, connected with various phases of the tapu question, and in which I have either been the offender personally, or have had to relieve, or release some other culprit. I am acquainted with the biography of several of the persons forming the subject of the portraits, and can corroborate the truthfulness thereof, but think a great many interesting details could be added to them, and I trust that before the final completion of your Sketches some additional particulars may be supplied to you by persons living in the districts of which the deceased chiefs were owners, and inhabitants - and also that the biographies not yet given may be furnished to you.

In conclusion I will state that in my opinion the collection of Maori implements, weapons, ornaments, carving, garments etc made by Captain Gilbert Mair, is of great value, and worth much more than is being paid for it. It illustrates the arts, and habits of the Maori; and many of the articles are absolutely unprocurable now; in fact some of them, after a residence of 56 years in this Colony, were new to me and I only knew them by name, and tradition. As regard your Gallery of Maori Portraits, if you should ever feel desirous of parting with it, it would become the duty of the Government, or the public, to purchase it from you, for the use and benefit of the Colony. With the addition of a few more notabilities to your present collection of portraits, and their biographies; which might be supplemented by researchers and extracts from the records of the Native Lands Court - a tolerably complete "History of the Maori in New [...]