Napier April 5, 1869 Sir, A short time before your Honor started, in a conversation I had with Mr. Russell he asked me where were all reports that had been brought from Taupo he said I never saw or heard such a lot of alarmists as there are in Napier. - (I expect he forgot Waipukurau) - at the same time that he said the above - he and Col. Laitt had become so frightened that 10 minutes before he had telegraphed to Wellington asking permission