it is a standing menace and liable to be broken through at any moment. The potatoe crops are ripening fast and the plantations about Ohiwa Orewha repiti and on the shores of the Lake are capable of affording food for a large number of persons. The opportunity of destroying the enemy has manifestly been lost or only partially taken advantage of; and time must elapse before we can again strike an effective blow unless some broad plan of action be immediately adopted; and of that there appears no likely hood. That the want of communication with Turanga is little short of a disaster is clear - inasmuch as had we known here for certain of Te Kooti being at Kohanga karearea as alleged in the letter I forwarded to you nothing would have been easier than for us to have fallen on his rear, as at the time we were within 3 miles of the Reinga and therefore a days march from Turanga. As it is we are entirely in the dark and can only form the merest guess at what is occuring elsewhere. The position is this the enemy knows everything and with promptitude and accuracy and we the precise opposite. I have the honor to remain Dear Sir, Your obedt. st. Geo B. Worgan His Honor Donald McLean Esqre.