letters with Ropata who was in good heart himself, but I made out that his men were sick of the work in the Maungapowhatu country. The day Ropata left Wairoa he wrote two letters about Renata Hamuhamu (the fellow charged with the Poverty Bay murders) one letter said send him to prison, the other said he Ropata wanted him. Also that he wanted Rewi and Kuare (two Chatham Isld. prisoners). You will see in the correspondence sent you my reply to Ropata's letters and that I at once agreed to his taking Kuare and Rewi but thought Renata should wait until question had been referred to you. In the same letter I told Ropata about the deceit of Ngatihuri and desired him to enquire into, and if he thought it desirable to take them to the coast as prisoners. This letter reached Ropata at Oriwha and it seems he was very indignant Renata had not been released directly his letter about him was recd. Porter wrote me privately that he was very sulky and that a number of his people wished him to go home, glad of any excuse to get off renewing the expedition - however Porter spoke very strongly to them and they settled down