Napier. Oct. 17th. 1872. My dear Mr. Maclean, Mr. Locke has shewn to me a copy of Karaitiana's letter to the natives of Poverty Bay; which, no doubt, is the counterpart of many other similar letters. You can afford to smile at his over-jealous haste in calculating upon the stability of the late Government, and in taking it for granted that all would turn out as he wished. At the same time you will no doubt make a profitable use of the leading points which are stated in that letter. The ideas which he puts forth are only, in part, his own. He has been well instructed by minds which are more far-seeing than his own. Some of those who exercise an influence over him are just the very last persons, as you and I well know, to engage in any scheme which shall promote the interests of the natives; but now, solely for the purpose of gaining strength to their party, they come forward as the most pure philanthropists in the country. They have given the idea to Karaitiana, possibly with the intention of modifying the scheme when it was to have been put into practice. But in the meantime, it goes forth as an ultra-liberal policy; which those who have been most disaffected among the natives are called upon to admire. The tendency of these principles is, I believe, to stir up disputation between the races, and to introduce a general confusion throughout the country. The Government of which you were a Member for the last two years, had shewn a strong disposition to treat the natives who had been opposed to the Government, with lenient consideration; and hence a large portion of the confiscated land has been given back. But now the broad declaration that all was to be returned to them, would amount, in the first place, to an acknowledgement that we had been in the wrong; and secondly, it was promising that which it is impossible to perform. These difficulties, however, men who were playing a desperate game, were willing to take the risk of. Then there are other ideas which have been suggested to the mind of Karaitiana, - the ignoring of Crown Grants; - also the Action of the Land Courts; - the establishment of Road Boards; - with every approximation towards that which must inevitably take place, the amalgamation of the races, governed by one common authority, - a result towards which the Government has been working ever since it was established, until it is freely confessed, that a quiet settlement of many points has been arrived at. All this, or a great part of it, Karaitiana has been led to think was to be brought about by the Stafford Government. It is just probable that the Opposition may make another effort to overturn the present Ministry. I hope they will not; but suppose they should do so. I think that with the knowledge you have of the dangerous policy which is disclosed, you would have very much stronger reasons than your predecessors were able to give, for urging upon the Governor the necessity for an appeal to the Country. Believe me to be Most faithfully yours, (Signed) W. Waiapu.