Opunake Feby. 1st. 1873. My dear Sir, Yesterday was a busy day with me as the Wellington Natives were passing through the district on their way to Parikaka where they say they intend to stop until you arrive in New Plymouth. The Natives in this District are well behaved and orderly well disposed to the Government -- with the exception of a few of William Kings people (those who committed the late robbery at Umuroa). The Natives generally consider that this should be severely punished to check this sort of thing. The leading men are anxious to see you on the subject of establishing a court and appointing one or two assessors in the District to try all offences -- as the old Maori custom of muru is too frequently resorted to at present -- every puremu case is now made an excuse for a muru -- and the people are most anxious to check this sort of thing. The New Plymouth and Patea people are verry anxious to get the road at the back of the mountains opened. The Ngatimaru people are I believe anxious for work and Hone Pehamas people when they return to their Patea reserves will want work, if they are offered work on that line of road, I do not think there would be any opposition taking it as a matter of course if on the other hand they are asked politically to give their consent to a road being made through there, I believe they would oppose it as it was the case with the Parihaka Natives. If that road could be got through it would do away with Te Whiti's influence to a great extent as the Parihaka road would not be required for a number of years as the coast trafic would go that way. Settlements could be formed on that line as the Natives seem disposed to sell land in that vicinity and in the Parihaka District while Te Whiti has influence there is no chance of obtaining land for settlement. There is therefore in reality very little to be gained in pressing for, or proceeding with the Parikaka road. And If the maintain road can be obtained it does away with the importance of Te Whiti and his consequent influence on this coast. I was up til a late hour last night as the Natives wished me to be present at a whakawa on two puremu cases, the cases were tried by committee of chiefs one case was satisfactorily settled. The other plaintiff was not satisfied with decision, said they were not regularly appointed magistrates like Hone Pihema, so he took what he claimed, a cart two bullocks and three horses for the offence -- they had to submit or it would have been made an excuse for a muru. Being up so late I have had to write these few hurried lines this morning to be in time for the mail which I must ask you to excuse. I remain Dear Sir, Yours truly, P.G. Wilson.