Waiuku 9 Jan./61 My dear Sir, I hope you will agree that no misconception should exist on the part of friendly and neutral natives relative to the intentions of the Government towards them when the war is brought to a close. Should such a feeling pass unchallenged, many natives now at home, and where they had better remain, might be induced to proceed to Taranaki and thereby prolong a contest even though it result, as I believe it will, in their destruction. Several rumours have reached me from Waikato during the last fortnight about the successes of the rebels in various skirmishes with the troops, which never took place, but which I understand were listened to with and implicitly believed by natives of Lower Waikato, who believe in the superior prowess of their countrymen and friends, whatever they may say when in Auckland. I have not bothered you with those reports, neither should I now allude to them but for the last, which is so extravagant that I cannot refrain from relating it. On Monday morning last, two Natives came here from Tuakau, and told me it was reported on the Waikato that a great fight had taken place at Taranaki, resulting in the defeat of the soldiers, 2,000of whom had been killed. The successful natives then attacked, and quickly took the Town, killed every one in it, carried off a large quantity of plunder, and then burnt the houses to the ground. The excitement and bounce evinced by some Lower Waikato natives on hearing the above, I am told surpassed the usual gestures peculiar to these people. No intelligence from Waikato about the fefeat at Matarikoriko, perhaps the insurgents are whakama, and have not yet despatched a messenger. All quiet here, and I hope nothing will prevent me leaving for a few days to arrange matters domestic - if all goes well I shall look you up next Friday. Faithfully yours, H. Halse D. McLean Esq. 5 p.m. Mail in. I do not observe any particular news in this days paper.