New Plymouth Nov. 7, 1859. My dear Sir, Your favour of the 20 ult. per Mr. Friend, I have duly received and am very sorry to hear of your illness which I sincerely hope was not of long duration, and that ere this you are convalescent, if not quite recovered from the attack. I have for a very long time been thinking whether or not you were come-at-able for the many letters I have sent you, having been anxious to hear from you, or see you, on account of Teiras question, which I have been keeping in abeyance for your expected return, hoping that in the interin the opposition would quieten down and become more pacific, which to a certain extent has been realized, for upon the first excitement, Wm. Kings party commenced to cut and burn the Fern upon the supposed boundary, which conduct was censured by several influential men and accordingly the work was stopped. Still the state of the question is such, as not to enable me to report any prospect of an amicable arrangement - Wm. King is as doggedly obstinate and impracticable as ever, and is encouraged to continue so, by the traitorous representations of the Tapuae party, who are doing all they can to damage Teira's question. Bob is living with Teito near Matataiore, and acts as spy for the for the opposition and is backed by W. Carrington, who has told them not to be frightened, that it was only ''Bounce'' of the Governor that he would not purchase the land of Teira so long as they opposed it - I think Mr. Bob will have to clear out from the Waiongona for he has so far committed himself as to make his residence there rather insecure. He has disclosed a secret plan of his and Teito's for the murder of Ihaia and Tiraurau, which Porikapa of Kaihihi chance to hear of, and made known. The question is now being gone into by the Waitara Natives, and if proved, he is to be recommended to leave the district. During my absence at Waikato Teira received too very encouraging letters from the Governor through Mr. Smith couched in such terms, as scarcely to admit of a retraction, since when they have been pressing the question rather earnestly upon me. In September last I received official instructions to pay an instalment to Teira, but as it was planting season, I deemed it advisable not to produce any excitement among them which would be likely to be the cause of Teira and his party losing the season for putting in their crops, and also that as the whole amt. is but small, I considered that paying it by instalments would do them no good. Those reasons I requested Halse (who left by the last Steamer) to explain to the Governor, which he did, and by the return of the Steamer I received a private letter from the Governor, copy of which I herewith enclose, by which you will perceive that it is His Excellency's wish that I should pay Teira an instalment for his land which I purpose doing accordingly in the course of a week or so. There can be no doubt as to the claims of Teira and his party, one of the best proofs of which he has but recently given me - viz. that when they came from Waikanae in 1848 Wm. King asked leave of Teira and his Father to build the Pa's on the South bank of the river, explaining his reason for wishing to do so, on account of the Waikato's, considering the South side safer than the North in case of an invasion. Mahau is behaving well and supporting Teira throughout he is gradually acquiring the lead of the Puketapu's, who have come to a mutual understanding with him, not to interfere with Teira's offer, to oppose it. He met Wm. King at the Kaipakopako a short time since, and in the presence of the people, asked him what his business was at that place, and requested him to leave off visiting there, as he feared twas for no good, that they the Puketapu's had decided not to interfere any more with the quarrels of other tribes as was his custom to do and therefore recommended him to keep to his place at Waitara. King was rather astonished at this piece of gratuitous advice from Mahau, which no one ventured to oppose, and consequently he has not visited there since. Karepa Kerei, Katatores Brother, has proposed the sale of Mongoraka, but our Ninia friends are as full of duplicity as they ever were, and are hanging back as they did in the Ikamoana affair. Ihaia has been at the hospital for two months, he is nearly recovered - he says the only hope of salvation for him is the settlement of Teira's question - that done and he is all right. The road to Auckland via Motukaranui is progressing favourably, but in your absence from headquarters, they are a long time furnishing me with the necessary instructions in the matter. Nothing has yet been done with the Mokau Natives in the Mail question and they are again applying to be allowed to carry from Mokau to New Plymouth. I believe it is intended to transfer the Mail from the coast line to the new line, when they will most likely have an interest in it. Hoping to hear by next mail of your arrival at Wellington. Believe me My dear Sir, Yours most respectfully, R. Parris.