Auckland March 4th. 1869. My dear Maclean, Since I closed my official letter, I have received news from Opotiki, to the 22nd. Te Kooti, with a force supposed to be 100 strong, was still in that neighbourhood, waiting a sign from Heaven, to attack some of the settlements. I am told, also, that Ropata and his people, whilst on their way to the Foure, heard that Te Kooti was at Ngatapa; and returned in consequence, to their own place. We have had another alarm in Waikato, - the circumstances, as usual, greatly exaggerated by the fears of the people, and by the newspapers; all of which, (the newspapers, I mean) including yours, at Napier, have a natural turn for the false and sensational. There danger, however; and there still; but only from the ultra-violent sections of Mania -poto. The King, and his immediate followers, I am bound to believe, - if, in these days, one can believe men's professions, - are sincerely desirous to keep the peace. I see that the Wellingtonians are getting up a cry for the Meeting of the Assembly, and for another battle between Provincialists and Centralists, in order that we may confirm the impression made by the proceeding, of last Session, that we are unfit for the exercise of free institutions, and incapable of raising our heads to see anything beyond our immediate surroundings. I am, my dear Maclean, Yours very truly, (Signed) Daniel Pollen.