Wairoa Augt. 14/68 My dear Sir I beg to acknowledge your note of the 6th. with reference to Pearce. Of course if the Govt. takes him away from me I cant help myself but at the same time if he is taken it will be very inconvenient in the present unsettled state of affairs here and I dont know how I shall manage without him. But I am pretty certain of one thing and that is that there will be no trip to Taupo for a while. Of course you have heard ere this of the gallant Colonels success? with the rebel prisoners and you may guess what the result will be in the interior in consequence. Of course you have also heard of the cowardly way Paora Apatu behaved up here it has had a very bad effect independently of the mischief caused at the time of the fight. Rakiroa and about 20 of his people have joined the exprisoners he was with us at the first skirmish and under pretence of fighting on our side got a rifle from a Govt. Native and was after that no more seen. I think te Waru is still staunch but I very much distrust Ngati kurupakiaka and Kahu tribes they behaved very badly with exception of a few youngsters. Ihaka Whanga was as usual a.1. he never wavers but his best endeavours were frustrated by reason of "orders and counter orders" and a good deal of lukewarmness on the part of his people, in consequence of no offer of pay having been made them while the Napier natives were getting pay and rations. I got no instructions from Govt. about I was obliged to take upon myself the responsibility of getting a few supplies for the friendly natives. I got a semi official from the gallant Colonel wigging me for not obeying orders (that I had not received) and threatening to report me to the Govt. in case of failure through my want of zeal on my part however as I have done what I considered right I suppose I must bear the brunt of his displeasure. I cannot but mention Preece he has behaved admirably during the whole of this most unfortunate campaign. If you would not mind I should like you to recommend him for an Ensignsy of Militia unmatched he very much wishes it in the event of his services being done away with at any future period, and I can only say that a more plucky gallant little fellow in the field I never saw with all his wits about him. During the time he was at Waiapu he was in the thick of every fight, and according to Richardson the same here. I have written to Mr. Commissioner Clarke giving him all the information about state of Native feeling etc. If not too busy I should very much like to hear from you. I am my dear Sir faithfully yours S. Deighton.