March 27/69 My dear Sir You may possibly imagine our amusement at the notification in the Gazette. There is but one idea upon the matter here and what the effect will be among the natives, you can easily guess. I have not seen Ihaka yet. It strikes me the Govt. will find out the mistake they have made when it is too late. We were badly off before but I really dont know what will happen when our native friends here know of the arrangements. I did not hear who is to be agent in your place. I suppose you wont object to my writing to you (privately of course) upon things in general up here. We are all getting into what you may call a funk. Ormond and I sleep up in Town and I think Worgan will do the same. I wish we had someone in Spillers place, I dont think he is overburdened with brains. I suppose you have heard nothing fresh about my affairs. The Natives have been very restless for some nights past and I cannot help thinking that something is afloat more than we know of - time will shew. I am my dear Sir truly yours S. Deighton.