New Plymouth Jany. 21, 1858 Dr. Sir, Having just heard you had left for the South I embrace the opportunity by the O.L. Mail just leaving, to send you this short Epistle, which I am sorry to say is of a most painful nature viz. a renewal of Native hostilities, the particulars of which Mr. Halse has agreed to furnish you with in detail, as I am expending the whole of my time with the Natives at this most critical juncture, as soon as Katatore had declared in favour of hand selling Mahau proposed this plot to murder him which Ihaia at the time treated with indignance and threatened him for such conduct. Katatore had made the most favorable concessions, relative to the Ikamoana questions, and not only promised to consent to the sale of that, but had also proposed to allow the Ikamoana people to participate in the sale of the Wakangerengere block. Ihaia had also made overtures for an entire reconciliation, which entirely divested Katatore of a thought of danger, and completely disarmed him, by which he has most treacherously decoyed into the Trap. From the present state of excitement of the Natives I have deemed it expedient to suspend negotiations for a time, waiting your instructions thereupon. I fully expect that a settlement for the block will be pressed for as they say it shall be sold. Some are of opinion that the Taranaki and Ngatiruanui Natives will take it up, but this I think entirely rests with Wm. Matakatea as he is the nearest related to Katatore, he is as you well know Sir a well disposed man. I have sent for him and shall do my best to prevail on him not to interfere. I have to close to be in time for the mail. With king regards, I remain Dr. Sir, Your most obt. st. R. Parris. P. S. Just as about to send this Wm. Matakatea has arrived.