Te Wairoa 12 August 1867 My dear Mr. McLean I write you a line to tell you that this morning Deighton and I settled the money difficulty here with the friendly natives. I have agreed to give them £800 for which they give up all claims besides the reserve at Pakowhai and one acre in the town for Mere Karaka the 1,000 acres which was agreed upon at the meeting here in April to be reserved and cut up into 50 acre sections the natives have given up so that now the government now get the whole block intact with the exception of the Pakowhai reserve of about 860 or 608 acres. I am glad to be able to tell you it was arranged without an unpleasant word from the natives I trust you will think I have not given too much but knowing how anxious the Government are to get the Mil. Sets placed on their land, I thought it best to get it settled at once. I go back to Poverty Bay tomorrow. The natives are anxious I should come back and portion off the rebel land to them as soon as it is surveyed. I have written to the Native Office to ask if I am to do it perhaps the Govt. will wish it left to the Lands Court. I think it would be better to let it go into Court all settled as it seems the Natives wish it arranged out of court but as I said before I shall await instructions. The Mil. Sets landed here safely last week and have been kind enough to bring the measles with them. When I left Turanga every thing was quiet but the natives are quarrelling amongst themselves about the land Baker, Fraser and all the others and making such a row singing that you must not expect me to write any more. Yours very truly Reginald Newton Biggs. There has been a rumour about Hau Hau coming down to attack Wairoa and Turanga but upon inquiry there is no truth in it.