27th. July /70. Private. Since closing my letter I have thought of one or two more little things. There is a great deal of drinking going on in this place, and there is no resident Magistrate here nor any White Policeman - I mean to say that when a Man gets drunk in this place, he kicks up a row, and there is no one to take charge of him or them as the case may be, their are also a great many Loafers here, that are living amongst Maories - - there are only Maori Policemen here but they are no use, to keep order. I think some one should be appointed, if it was only temporary, as their are plenty of men knocking about here, through the flax being here. Also through the Telegraph work going on. Men get discharged from the different works, and they come down to Maketu, spend thier money, and then loaf amongst the Maories - Kick up rows etc. and there is no one here to keep order. The other thing is, that I wish to bring to your notice is, that a man named Oakley (late in the A.C. (s) is allowed to men for the He does a very good trade, and though he has leave to do so - It goes against one's grain to see him do it - as one does not really know when those arms might be used against yourself - I believe he has orders to this effect that when a Maori wants a gun mended, He has to take it to "Retreat" the Maori Sergt. at this place and get a written order and then Oakley is allowed to mend that gun - but how do you know where that gun comes from - it might belong to the greatest Hau Hau in the Island, and be brought down here by a friendly Native to get mended. I trust that you will excuse my writing to you in this strain - because for all, that I know, you might have given leave yourself. My great reason for telling you this - is - that some three years ago, Roko Roko came in from Ohiwa to Opotiki, with some Natives and 10 or 12 stand of Arms and he got leave to get those arms mended. I made a remark at the time that those Arms might be use against us in a very short time, and so they where, when Roko Roko joined Te Kooti and killed poor Pitcairn the Surveyor at Ohiwa. Remaining Yours ever sincerely, Herbert F. Way.