of the Wairarapa purchase being placed under my directions, was on the 22nd. ultimo, in a Note I was favoured with from His Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor. I can assure you that it is my most anxious desire to resume the Manawatu negotiations, and undertake the Wairarapa purchase, as soon as possible; but I have felt the necessity of remaining here longer than I expected, from an accumulation of duties connected with Taranaki, that have, up to the present, demanded my constant attention; for instance, - I have had to settle several payments due for Blocks of land acquired from the natives since 1847, - to settle various differences throughout the district, some of them affecting the European settlement, - to encourage and countenance those natives favourable to the disposal of land; as their being overlooked might close up the field for future negotiations, - to keep up a general correspondence with the natives of this extensive district; and to arrange and leave such matters, as far as practicable, in such a settled state as would enable me