Wairoa Nov. 29/72 My dear Sir I have just recd. your letter of the 23rd. as well as that of the 19th. inst. and try to thank you most sincerely for your kindness in the matter. I have been very busy the last two or three days arranging with the Natives about the Waikari moana road. I have finished translating the specifications and the contracts will be signed I believe this morning I have been doing this under Mr. Mitchells instructions. I am about/you, if any work in the road making (Maori work) Interpreting etc. etc. should chance to be wanted to be done, that I am always on the spot and should be only too glad of a chance of earning a little money nothing will come amiss as you may imagine. You mention in your note taht you were thinking of sending up a supply of food to the Natives. I trust you will forgive my offering any suggestions in the matter but I think unless you have actually promised them the supplies I would not send them, for these reasons firstly because they have already commenced on the new potatos of which there is a most plentiful crop this season, and secondly, if they got any supplies gratis they would not be so anxious about the Waikari moana road and would be apt to be lazy, it would also give them more drink money and you know they can do a little in that way. I was very pleased with Paora te Apatu the other day at the meeting about the road. It appeared to hang fire and we should have had some little trouble but that he spoke very strongly in its favour, mentioning that a very large piece of work done by Ihaka Whanga in the bush road to Poverty bay was not paid half so well as this and yet all the Natives went to work willingly - it quite turned the day and everything went off well. Our respected clergyman was as usual officious and grasping but as he always is so, no notice was taken of it. Things on the whole are looking well as far as Natives are concerned, they have settled more down to useful work this season than I have ever known before, they dont seem to be so much in love with whaling, and have taken more to fencing and cultivating. They gave more under cultivation this year than I have seen for any two years together since I have been here. I was glad to hear that the Uriweras had agreed about the road at last, of course you have heard about ere this. I am my dear Sir very faithfully yours S. Deighton.