makes me wish you not again to plunge into such trouble waters as you and I had to contend against till very recently. This place is a perfect calm, for, though the fight goes on more fiercely than in N.Z, I take no part in it and can look on with great equanimity. Russell's unwise declaration in the dispute between Colenzo and the Maoris must necessarily have given great offence to the Europeans and I am not surprised at his unpopularity. I am however surprised at Whitmore's accepting