. New Plymouth Taranaki 26 Sept. 1860. My dear Mr. McLean, Thanks for your letter of the 18th. which only reached me yesterday - the Wonga Wonga having been down to Nelson. I regret to see the desire to make little of our destruction of W. Kingi's Pah - we have done the same to 5 pahs in the Tatara maika block - they were as usual evacuated on the approach of the troops evidently because the troops would have invaded them - and the wily Maoris retired to a pah in the bush some miles off. I cannot but think the destruction of all the pahs in the open must have some effect. I see already that parties I presume here to whom I am obnoxious have begun to write against me and it is hard at my time of life to be aspersed after a long term of honourable service. I shall be glad if you will write to me from time to time and request that you will believe me faithfully yours G.T, Pratt.