and if entitled to remuneration over and above his salary I fancy I should have been asked to certify to the correctness of the account - at least this is my notion of office routine, otherwise where's the check? I was glad to hear from Rogan of his land purchasing in the north. You could not have a better man in your department and perhaps have not his equal in caution and efficiency. We hear nothing on the contrary of Parris' doings. Like the mole he may be working unseen, though I shrewdly suspect not. The natives, especially at Waitara, are on his books which may account for their offering land to him, throwing dust in his eyes I fear there as well as in other places, What I have said is nothing against his fitness which I think he has shewn by tackling Katatore in the first instance. The natives hereabouts openly express their dislike and contempt for us, and who cognizant of our treatment of them since FitzRoy of unhappy memory set foot in the country can wonder at it. Many are Sepoys at heart, and would turn on us with a slight pretext. Our only hope is in buying their land and occupying it wherever they may offer it, lessening the disproportion of races and enabling us to govern them as we are governed. Yours very truly W. Halse