My dear Bell, The present aspect of affairs in the North Island requires that some action should be taken to convene the assembly with the least possible delay. In this Province meetings have been held and the people have been quite unanimous in petitioning the Governor on the subject, each day the present men hold office is a black day for New Zealand and to us who reside near the scene of hostilities it is a matter of life and death that a change should take place that will restore the confidence of both Europeans and natives. The Stafford Ministry is reduced to great extremities when it can only get such supporters in a community as ex parson Colenso, a dismissed officer of volunteers and a vain silly man like Lord Henry Russell actually at a meeting attended by 4 or 500 people last night only 6 hands were held up against resolutions condemnatory of Stafford and those hangers on for whatever they could get