My dear McLean, I improve five minutes while waiting to take some natives in to see H.E. to drop a line on the chance of its finding you at Kawhia. Yours of the 25th is to hand I will try what can be done about the M.M. but we are so ''throng'' at the office that I know not haw we are to get matter ready for the press. Morgan writes in reporting stoppage of Napie mail by Taupo natives -- At H.E. request I have written to Potatau about it by today's overland mail -- Hohepa Tamaihengie of Ngatitoa came up by the steamer with a companion Haipmana of Motueka, he is very warm in protestations of loyalty and etc. and now waits upon H.E. to obtain his sanction to his going to attend the Ngaruawahia Meeting -- Parris has sent up the Genealogical Statement and a letter from Mahau relating te Teira's claims copies of which I will, if possible, send you -- Your wish with respect to office hours shall be attended to -- also with reference to Militia duty -- Turton has consented to go to Wellington for three months -- The news from Waikato is not very satisfactory but comes mainly from persons I fancy are somewhat given to ''croaking'' -- Reid and Morgan, I mean -- It seems a party of Ngatimaniapoto's have determined to accompany the Ngatiruanui deputation on their way south -- Rewi is to go with them -- but it is said by some that they have no intention of jokning in the fighting -- they are to urge the Governor's terms, as understood by Tamati Ngapora -- and conveyed in a letter by him to Ngaruawahia -- there appears to have been some misapprehension on Tamati's part but the effect will be to delay movements and so be beneficial -- (The Govr. desires me to mention that he has neither guns nor ammunition to send to Raglan as promised by you). I presume the Govr. has mentioned the principal items of news so will not give them again -- Tamaihengie will leave on Wednesday to join you on the Waikato he is much pleased with the Governor's intentions towards W.King -- and the proposal to make Waitara the boundary between him and the Europeans -- I have not time to add more -- did not know until just now of the arrangement to send the steamer to Raglan and Kawhia -- Yours sincerely Thos.H. Smith Monday Ap.30th /60