Napier 16th December, 1868 Dear Sir, I have received your letter of the 12th Instant and quite agree with Major Lamberts opinion that it is desirable to ascertain whether there are a considerable number of Hau Haus in the Whapunaki ranges, and if your conjectures are true that several of the leading men of the Tamiona rangi Hapu are hiding in the caves in the Mangapoiki Gorge it is all the more necessary that an expedition should go to ascertain the fact, and I should like to send a force from here to cooperate, but cannot do so for the present until I receive intelligence from Poverty Bay as to what has been done since the late aggressive movement of te Kooti in that direction on the 14th Inst. which you no doubt have heard. I remain, Yours truly, Donald McLean