New Plymouth 22nd Decr. 1873. My dear Sir, Having completed my inspection of the Patea and Taranaki Districts, I have much pleasure in saying that I found things generally in a satisfactory state. In the Patea District the officers and men were well acquainted with their drill, and the officers drilled the men in turn much better than I expected. Sub Inspectors Capel and Forster had for sometime past been instructed by Mr.Hackett - The horses are all good, sound and in excellent condition, notwithstanding that they seldom receive any forage - At Waihi, which is the strongest post in the Colony, I found everything in very excellent order - At Patea the mens quarters and the arrangements for messing were not so good; however, this, with a few other small matters will be rectified at once by Major Turner - In the Taranaki District the officers and men were well and uniformly dressed and the officers and men well up in their drill - The horses are of a superior class, sound and in good condition - The stations are neat and clean and in good repair - The Urenui bridge is a first class piece of work - I made a very close inspection of everything in both Districts and was much gratified to find them in the satisfactory state mentioned, and that both Majors Turner and Tuke get on well with the people in their Districts - I leave for the "Manakau" by the "Taranaki" expected here today. I remain my dear Sir Yours very truly W. Moule. The Hon. D. McLean C. M. G. Native Minister