Poverty Bay My dear Mr. McLean I send you a line upon the chance of its catching the steamer on the 15th. from Napier as I want you to use your influence at the Defence Office to get a couple of men (Maoris of course) to look after the arms belonging to Henare Potae and his people or rather government arms in their possession. The whole thing is as follows Henare has taken all the government arms from his people as he found that he could not help-them using them to kill cattle and pigs as long as they remained in their hands when I saw him about a fortnight ago he had given in one hundred and eleven and expected to get the remainder in a week he wanted me to send a couple of men to look after the arms to keep them clean and in serviceable condition I have written to the Defence Office about it and told them that I consider it a capital precedent to work upon in getting all the arme into different depots on the coast. Henare has done this without a word from me more than sometime ago I spoke to him to prevent his people using rifles for shooting pigeons etc. My idea is to get the arms collected into some half a dozen places along the coast have one or two paid Maoris to look after them and let somebody visit the different depots once in three months to see that every thing is all right. There was a rumor about a taua coming down to here and to the Wairoa a little time ago but a day or two ago I heard that some of the absent Maoris belonging to tribes here are anxious to come back. I have given my consent to one of their relations going to bring them in Araru has hitherto prevented their coming in but he is now in Waikato. Before concluding I must thank you for placing Hamlin at my disposal should I require his services at te Wairoa. It was very kind of you to do so Deighton acted as Interpreter for me at the Wairoa having received instructions from Native Minister to render me every assistance so I did not require Hamlin then but got him to draw up the deed (or receipt) for the money I do hope the govert. will send the £800 soon I shall go down to Napier as soon as I hear that it has arrived to carry it up to Wairoa. Pray remember me kindly to Mrs. Hart Yours Very Truly Reginald Newton Biggs.