Wairoa November 28th. 1868 9 p.m. Dear Sir, Mr. Hamlin has decided on returning to Napier, and I take this opportunity of sending a few lines by him. On the receipt of your Despatch, I was so pushed to find a messenger, that had not Mr. George Burton very kindly volunteered, I might not have been able to have forwarded it, I have requested Mr. Hamlin to ask the Mohaka natives to send a few men here. I must state distinctly that I consider there has been a total neglect of providing many things, and making many arrangements of vital importance to the successful prosecution of the Wairoa Expedition; that it has been impossible to take any steps to satisfy these deficiences, owing to the extreme impractibility of the Officer Commanding. Supplies could, I judge, be more easily forwarded from Turanga than from Wairoa to the front; but, as from the reason just stated, the Wairoa Contingent was delayed two days more than necessary; and the chance of cutting off the enemy, materially lessened thereby. I consider that it is a great oversight to supply the Force from the Wairoa also, - inasmuch as should they (the enemy) be driven back, and make good their retreat to Puketapu, it will be necessary regularly to besiege their pa. A native here, who knows Puketapu, tells me that the supply of water there falls in summer altogether; an argument in favour of the opposition that they may have selected another spot for making their final stand. In any case, the operations promise to last much beyond the time allotted, - 10 days from the start. Uncertain as we are as to the existence or not of migratory bands, it would be folly to risk sending ammunition or stores without proper escort. I have made every enquiry as to the present position occupied by the enemy; and I conclude that both statements forwarded by you are mainly correct. The uangaroa, - its source, rather - being close to the head of the Wharekopae stream, which trends to the South and West. Mr. Burton will place his valuable knowledge of localities at the service of the Expedition. If properly and systematically followed up, there is no doubt that we shall make an end of Te Kooti soon.