New Plymouth, Jany. 30, 1861. My dear Sir, As the ''Lord Ashley'' is leaving, I send a few lines by her. The Southern miscreants at the Omata district, are plundering and burning every thing about the place They have actually taken horses from the Race course and among them my own old favourite horse Kimikai. Whilst at Waitara I recommended that an effort should be made to punish those mean wretches, lest they should go quietly out of the district with all their plunder, without any opposition, which would be uncommonly annoying - but the General appears determined to get to the Huirangi strongholds before he returns - Mr.Wilson received by the last Auckland Mail, a letter from Mr. Morgan, giving a very gloomy account of the appearance of things in Waikato, and that 1200 men were preparing to leave for this place - ofcourse they have not heard of the disaster of the 23rd inst. Mr.Morgan also stated that he had heard from the Governor that Ngapuhi are rising - Two dead bodies were found yesterday by the sappers, one of them, had his head in a Haversack - put on no doubt to avoid the annoyance of the flies - before dead - Very offensive smell about the place in advance of the Sap supposed to be dead bodies - I begin to think their loss is more by far than they have yet acknowledged. Will they not be convinced of the absurdity of contending against our appliances - Brave but deluded people - Now is the time for their true friends, to exert themselves, lest it becomes a War of Races - May God avert the calamity - Yours Truly, Robert Parris. D. McLean, Esqre.