Poverty Bay 18 June 1866 D. McLean Esq., Napier. My dear Sir, Yours of 7th. inst. to hand. On the 14th. we received letters from Andrew Matete (or as he calls himself "Matuakore") urging the people here to join the King and Hau hau. Our natives in very good faith send you the originals. I do not think he will make many proselytes here. At the same time as he urges the necessity of being "Tupato" in which I quite agree, do you not think it is bad policy inviting an attack in fact to reduce the force at Turanga to such a very small flaction? Tamakana and other Natives exclaim loudly against giving up the Post at "Kohanga Karearea" they justly say it commands the approach by way of te Reinga, and that no one would know whether when the morning broke they might not find the position occupied by a Hauhau force. I do not pretend to understand our present Policy but it does seem strange to reduce the Col. force at the very moment the Imperial Troops are leaving the Colonys. We have not seen the last of our Maori war. They will "hide their time" and the different settlements will be liable to he attacked I fear for years to come. You will see what the writer thinks of Sir Georges endeavour to coaxe the King to to a meeting. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the native petition. Morgan promised to send it on without delay. Do you not shink it would be as well to rearm those of our settlers (with perhaps one or two exceptions) whose arms have been ealled in? Wishing you every success, I am Very faithfully J.W. Harris. There were some five natives who accompanied Andrews daughter some of our people have gone this morning to endeavour to bring them in.