Napier, 4 Agt. 65. My Dear Sir, I am in receipt of your several letters of the 10, 22nd and 24 ult. and I feel exceedingly obliged for the full information you have given of the state of affairs at Turanga. At the time of writing you were not aware that any steps had been taken to support Morgan and I trust altho I am not sanguine on the subject that what has been done there may act as a check upon some of the Turanga people. I am glad that you so fully coincide in opinion as to the necessity for supporting Morgan. Immediately I heard of a sort of reverse at Waiapu I started to Wellington for army and men to aid Morgan I returned again in the Eclipse man of war took 50 Military Settlers from here having previously sent 30 Volunteers and supplied all the Govt. natives of Tuparoa Hicks Bay and Waiapu with arms. The results so far have been very favourable. I quite agree in what you state respecting Opotiki I may tell you in confidence that measures will shortly be adopted to occupy that place but say nothing about it as I do not like talking about the intentions of the Govt. before action is taken. Pototi returns today I treated him as well as I could he has had an advance of £30 as a present and I have given him 20 boxes of caps for defence, but no arms the caps Intended and proposed to send to you, but I afterwards thought it would not be fair in the present state of things as it might be a pretext to the Hauhaus to annoy you. I will be guided by what I hear from you and by circumstances as they develop themselves as to the arming of the friendly Natives - our present policy should be to keep matters as quiet as possible at Turanga till Waiapu and Opotiki are in a more settled state. You may rely on my representing your case to the Gov. indeed I propose going to Wellington on the 15 In any way in which I can assist you at Turanga I shall certainly do so. I asked Mr. Deighton to call on his way from Waiapu to see how matters are up to the last moment. If you can get many of the Natives to sign the Petition for being annexed to Hawkes Bay the matter will be brought before the Assembly at once. The Hicks Bay Natives have signed their petition. The newspapers will give you all the local news - I have a letter from Edward - I sent a message to Henry not to think of going to Poverty Bay but I have not seen him. I remain, Yours very truly, Don. McLean. The St. Kilda arrived from Waiapu at 2 P.M. with His Honor the Supt. J.W. Harris, Hirini.