Auckland 30th. November 1868 Donald McLean Esq Napier Dear Sir, I drop you a line to ask you if you would be kind enough to let the bearer of this letter, Mr. Ellis (whom I beg to introduce to you) have a passage to Poverty Bay in the ''St. Kilda.'' Mr. Ellis is a brother of poor Mrs. Wilson, and he is anxious to get to her as soon as possible. I have not time to write you a long letter, but I can't help saying I am glad you are taking active measures to punish the perpetrators of that dreadful massacre, and hope you will be successful. You will know best, being on the spot, but do you not think that those of the resident natives of Haunga who have joined Kooti, would come out from among the Hau Haus if they were invited to do so? Of course I speak without any information as to whether they went over willingly, or had to surrender to superior force. But if the latter was the case, it would be a pity for them to become implicated by force of circumstances; while their friendship, though perhaps of very little material help to us, would, at any rate, waeken the wretches of Kooti's party, who deserve sweeping off the face of the earth. I know there is great difficulty in giving them an opportunity of coming out; for it would be giving the others a warning. But I mention it, knowing the defenceless state the natives there were in; and that if they had wished to resist, they could not have done so effectually. I need hardly say to you that I sympathise most strongly with the unfortunate sufferers. I enclose you £2.0.0 towards the relief of the survivors, and wish I could afford more. I remain yours truly (Signed) J.W. Preece. To:- Donald McLean Esq.