occupies all my time, and would any one's to do it as throughly as I believe I have done -- The rate of pay I have no doubt is an objection, I would not however accept any position with a less salary than £300 per ann: However I have a right to receive an answer to my letter, and as I before stated I anticipate that my employment will be discontinued -- Now as to this place -- it is going too far to say ''that we are prepared for an emergency'' we have done all in our power with very limited means to guard against surprise but there the matter ends -- and only this by the aid voluntarily yeilded to my request by the native chiers -- the Military arrangements are totally inadequate -- nearly all the families have moved as near as they can get to the Redoubt, the Imiroa people sleep at ''te Hatipe pa'' even 'Toha' has abandoned the pilot station -- and I myself take it by turn with my servant and a neighbour to mount guard every night at Spooners point; as no men can be spared from the Blockhouse for the purpose. The times are any but agreeable and suspense is more wearisome and depressing than being brought face to face with the menaced danger would be. My private reasons (which I hinted to, you) for supposing that we are not really menaced by serious attack, are first the few men ''Te Waru'' could bring into the field, by himself, and the want of any large supply of Ammunition -- as the same time their scouting parties are active and daring, and wouldn't hesitate a moment to attack a weak point that offered chance of supply of arms and powder. And again I have gathered little by little from a variety of sources