Auckland, December 17th, 1870 My Dear McLean, I send you an official today reporting what I had done in receipt of your Wanganui letter. Clarke I am sorry to say has been very ill and obliged to go to the Bay so that I have lost the advantage of his advice. You will see that I have picked up the two most acceptable men to the Kings party that I could find Te Wheoro and William Barton and sent them to Manuhiri. I thought it most prudent to let them feel the wayand to go on their own account without any official document or character; but in presence of Mr. Searancke I told them that this was a crime which could not be overlooked as they were aware and that I was most anxious to see that Manuhiri and the Kings people should show their friendly disposition and desire to stop this "killing" by handing over Todds murderers at once. Te Wheoro and Barton approved highly of the mode of proceeding and went away without much hope I fear of being successful. The Ngatihaua sent a deputation also to ascertain whether the murder had been committed within the confiscated boundary and the Inspector of H. C. who went with them by my direction reports that they were satisfied that what they had heard was false. I frankly confess to you that I think there is evil behind all this and that it is a very deliberate provocation offered with the full knowledge of Tawhiao himself if not with his consent. He came from Hauturu to Hitits place on the Sunday night and Todd was killed on the Monday morning. He is said to be given up to drinking and was drunk there for many days. He did not see Ihaia or the Southern chiefs who came to Tokagnamutu. I am most anxious to hear what is to be the result of their meeting but I greatly fear it will not be what we should wish it to be. I have done what I could to keep matters quiet and yet to have the appearance of action, but in truth we are quite helpless. I would strongly urge the sending of 50 or 60 men of the A. C. to Waikato there ought to be 200 men there for a while at any rate they can be put to some use on the public works and then their presence will do good. I hear from Wilson that our Arawa friends are very sulky and that Petera Te Pukeatua since his return from Te Kuiti has shown himself to be very much of a kings man. These Arawas want very careful looking after and no man can I think do it as well as Clarke who knows them thoroughly. They are making large demands for payment on account of the telegraph. Clarke has had congestion of the lungs and spitting of blood and will not be fit for active work I am afraid for a while. The British lion is of course valiant about Todds afair and everybody is asking what the Government is going to do? a very difficult question to answer. If they give up the men, well, if not any attempts to capture them by force would be in my view a wild business and would certainly I think bring on a general raid which we do not at all want to help us in our present distresses. I will give you the first news from Te Wheoro and now as the mail is waiting I must end. Yours very truly Daniel Pollen.