No. 27.
The Chief Commissioner to James Preece, Esq., Coromandel.

With reference to your letter of the 17th July last, forwarding your general report of the state of the land purchases in your district, I have the honor by direction of His Excellency the Governor to inform you that there is no particular urgency for acquiring land in the vicinity of Coromandel Harbour, as the district, except for its probable mineral wealth, is of very little value otherwise; the land is poor; there is no extent of it suited for agriculture; the price expected by the Natives is beyond its intrinsic value; and I confess I do not see any particular object in paying a high price for land there at present.