Napier 27th Feby. /63 My dear Bell We have had another jolly row with the Natives here a few days ago. A policeman took up a very well disposed young Chief Paura Rerepu for being drunk and as he has being led to the lock up the Natives of whom there could be no less than 150 in town that day rescued him after a struggle on the part of the Constables to keep him. However they threatened the Policeman with a blow on the head from a tomahawk and carried off their man. The police again followed up at a modest distance from the Maori mob about 40 in number as if they were going to apprehend him. A mob of men women and children were collecting, a few sculls were in danger of being knocked when I got to the spot and saw it was useless then to attempt a recapture. Had I been alone I could have taken Paul away from them but it is not so easy to act where there is a mob so all I could do was to send two chiefs after them to appear in Court to answer for their conduct. This they did yesterday but no punishment was inflicted beyond a rebuke from the R.M. The two Civil Commissioners and Hunter Brown were there. Now you will see the necessity of letting us have a constabulary force. If it is not done soon I should not be surprised from the temper of the people if we do not soon have such an outbreak as the Govt. cannot easily quell. I have sent an official to Domett on the subject, and as Sir George Grey Domett Russell and all of you agreed to. let us have £5000 at least all exceptyourself I trust now that you will sanction the matter and not keep us in suspense any longer. I was elected unanimously as Superintendent yesterday. I wrote by the Dolphin on the 17th through you to Domett giving up General Govt. pay and emolaments and I shall be glad to hear from you that all is right and no more bother. Do write by the Queen or ask Domett to do so. I go back again to my constituents for reelection. I was not in receipt of any emolaments when elected Supt. so that if there is anything in the disqualification act it will only be in reference to the first election which under all the circumstances and doubts relating to my liabilities it's provisions should not stand in the way of gazetting me in the usual manner. I fully rely upon you to arrange this matter for me I have also written to Domett. I see that that old blackguard Stokes attacks you and me in his usual slip slop manner. If he was worth the notice I would have a slap at him I do not know what to say about Master Hunter Brown. If he still indulges in his strong missionary anti government sympathies. We should rather be without him. he does appear to have succeeded in other places. I hope if you are going to appoint a magistrate for the Middle District that a quiet worthy man like Campbell will get it as he has been promised an appointment for such a long time. He would be popular here with Europeans and Natives. Hapuku is going to Waikato. Renata Karatiana and the others are getting into much better order and I hope by degrees if you will only sanction the police that much good can be done. I hope you will come down when Sir George visits the District as we might settle many points together. I forgot to ask about a printed document which Sir George told me he saw with the Natives respectingthe Waitara in which Teira is declared to be the sole owner exclusive of others. You nor I were not aware of the existence of such a document. I have had a very heavy weeks work with the Natives, they will not with all I can do in the way of advice deal with any one else while I am here. I had a large party lately from Manawatu. Your memorandum on Wairarapa 5 per cents is quite the thing. As yet there is no mill on the lower Wairarapa the £400 was paid to obtain one for them and forms part of 5 per cents due to the Kahai Waikairi for the lower valley or such portions of it as have been disposed of. I remain My dear Bell Your's faithfully Donald McLean