Te Wairoa 13 Aug. 1867. My dear Sir, Having recd. a letter from Govt. which in my opinion and that of Withers whom I consulted, I considered left me no option but to move my men from Napier to Te Wairoa without delay I did so by the "Star of the South" on the 6th. inst. and landed all the men women and children with baggage on Wednesday morning all right. I gave £50 for the steamer, and I hope if the Gov. are inclined to mind it too much you will kindly explain to them that to have carried them and their baggage (amounting to 20 tons) by any other way would have cost at least £80 - besides the uncertainty which must always attend the arrival of a vessel at the Wairoa. There is nothing new here, except that Biggs has settled everything all right. I think he is writing to you however himself. Everything is quite quiet here, there are rumours of course but nothing of any certainty. Please excuse this hurried scrawl, as Biggs is trying to sing and no-one on earth could write under such circumstances. Yrs very sincerely, James Fraser.