Waingaroa Sep 18 1860 My dear Sir,, By this mail you will receive a communication from Mr. Skinner which in my opinion will subject him to the charge of being an alarmist. He sent me a note the contents of which, if I had made public as he intimated I should, would no doubt hav eproduced a greater panic than we had before. According to my idea it was not the least likely that the Waikato people would be guided by anything that the Kawia people might propose; and further, whatever Hohua might have heard I did not think there was any real intention on th epart of the tribes he mentioned to commence hostilities against Auckland. From these considerations I advised Dr Harsant not to send an express to Auckland as he was intending. Dr H. Waited on me to hear my opinion he having received a communication from Mr. S. similar to the one he sent me. I also made it my business to see William on the subject whose opinion I found to be precisely my own. Dr H. was here again last evening bringing with him another communication from Mr. Skinner informing him that for the present the project was abandoned. William is writing to you this morning informing you of what he has heard from the east coast, simply as he says to put Auckland on its guard against any mischief from that quarter. I take this opportunity of adding my request to William's with regard to Waikato namely, that the river may not be blockaded, or trade at all interrupted unless the tribes there really do something for which they ought to be punished and I hope further that neither troops nor gun-boat mayb e sent to this place. I mention this because some of our valiant men haere seem to be bent upon the destruction of this settlement by such means. You will no doubt have heard of the return of the Kawhia people from Taranaki with their spoil of cattle, horses, sheep, etc. etc. William has been to Aotea to arrange measures for preventing their coming here to trade. I am, My dear Sir, Yours truly, J. Wallis.