Napier, April 18th, 1871. My dear McLean, The Star goes presently and I must write a line in continuation of my letter written before I left for Poverty Bay but which there has been no chance of sending earlier. My official will tell you all about the expedit. and return of Ngatiporu - Ropata no doubt had done his best as his state and the condition of his men showed they were nearly all of them covered with boils brought on by want of food and exposure - The prisoners were a miserable lot and not worth meddling with so I arranged with Ropata to take them to his settlement - I fear he makes these prisoners work hard, so that it is no bad plan to give them to him - I talked with him about Renata Hamuhamu and as he still wished to have him and I am unable to get any evidence to convict him of the murders of the European women and children I told Ropata he should