of their party are killed and wounded. But when we look on the matter in connexion with their position as British subjects I deeply regret our physical inability to uphold the justice of our laws by bringing the offenders to their trial, and if as I sadly believe a foul murder has been committed to carry out the sentence that must follow. I believe however that any force that could at present be spared if sent here would be insufficient to capture the offenders and prevent the consequent rising of the disaffected Natives to the North and South of us. Prudence therefore with us must be used and whilst we mourn the loss of our friends who have fallen use great diligence in endeavouring to disabuse the minds of their opponents who are their own more than our enemies. Sunday 6th. This far had I written when the arrival of my brother Magistrates at the Office who had been convened for the purpose of deliberating on an application expected to be made for supplying the Hua natives with arms and ammunition; and to consult on the present position of the Province as affected by our relation to the Natives prevented any proceeding with my letter. I will therefore briefly put you in possession of the results of our deliberations. To the application of the Natives for a supply of arms etc. the whole of the magistrates assembled (Cat. King, I.P. King, Leach, Halse, Cooper and myself) concurred in the opinion that it could not for an instant be entertained. They likewise approved of the precaution that had been taken by the R.M. who acting on the advice of Mr. Cooper and Mr. Halse had issued a caution to the Europeans against interfering in any way the Natives in their quarrel. Two of the Magistrates expressed strongly an opinion that the Government should be urged to take steps for punishing the Natives implicated in this affair, but the general feeling was that after making as full a report as could be obtained, the matter should be left to be dealt with by the Government in the way it thought best. On my return to the Enui in the Evening Mr. Turton called on his way back from a visit to Katatore and gave me his (Whaitore's) verson of the whole affair which puts it in a somewhat different light. He says that between him and Rawiri there had been some disputes about land, that in consequence the latter