Shortland 25th. January 1870. My dear Sir, I forward you a letter just received from Te Hira. I have kept a copy for Mr. Puckey. I also send you copy of a letter shown me by Mohena, a Missionary Maori, who appears to have pretty regular communications from the Aroha, where some of his family reside. The natives here appear very disturbed about the news from Patereri, and the upper Thames. They also appear annoyed about several diggers having gone to Ohinemuri. Should you desire to make a move from this, the fact of the diggers going there without the sanction of the Government, offers a good opportunity for sending men up to protect the interests of the Friendly Natives. Captain Gwynneth has been saying more than he ought, to some of the men he has lately enrolled. He was told by me to get the men ready as quietly as possible. I enclose you a paragraph from the ''Times'', on this subject. Such paragraphs talked about among the natives are calculated to do harm. I hear that supplies go up this river (the Waiho), to Kooti's people. If it be true that Kooti has the number of men it is stated he has, he must have been supplied with men by the King party. Should he be pressed, he will probably retire from the Patereri district by an old war path to Rotorua. Is it guarded? Believe me Yours very truly J. K. Cooper. To:- The Honorable Donald McLean Defence Minister Auckland. (N.B. The following is the paragraph referred to in foregoing letter.) ''For some time past the recruiting of volunteers for active service has been going on amongst us. Captain Gwynneth has had about a hundred men drilling every night ready at any time they might be called upon to proceed to another district. The men have been kept waiting, without pay, all this time. Captain Gwynneth had an interview with the Hon, the Defence Minister, in Auckland, on Saturday, and explained the position in which the men stood; at the same time asking for some definite answer as to whether, and when, the Government would require the services of the men who had come forward. Mr. McLean promised to send an answer to Major Cooper. On assembling as usual last night, at the Volunteer Hall, Captain Gwynneth informed the men of what he had done, and as he had not received any answer through Major Cooper, he dismissed the Volunteers from further attendance at drill until called together by advertisement.''