New Plymouth 11 April 1859. My dear Sir, As Parris has given all the news in his letter of this date since your departure I write to say that I leave for Whanganui tomorrow, where I hope to meet you. Henere Puni and party left this morning for Wellington with several horses for his friends there. He appears to be anxious to see you about the Waimakaiho question and speaks confidently of the result when investigated in the presence of Puni and himself. A case of cattle trespass occurred the other day in the land in question and the animals were impounded in Town Pound by Paki and his friends - a claim of 2/- per head was made and refused on the ground of the land not being fenced and the R.M. seemed to be of opinion that given had the land been fenced, no damages would be allowed as the Government does not acknowledge the claim of the natives to that land. Upon this Paki threatened to secure all cattle that may in future be found on the disputed land and only release them on receiving 5/- per head. I of course told him do nothing of the kind without however altering his determination, and in the midest of our conversation Mr. Richmond came up and was made acquainted with the case. He took no part in the the discussion but is of opinion that settlers could not be expected to pay such an exorbitant demand for cattle straying on land in reality their own, and added that our position in this case was a false one, and should be decided at once one way or the other. A summons is to be taken out agt Paki for impounding cattle, belonging to Mr. A. King, but with what good result I am not prepared to say. I send this by way of Tohanganui,thence to Wellington simply to inform you of my movements. Faithfully yours, H. Halse.