a Taranaki native named Himera, took up the puriri block, and so left the question in a worse position than before. E Waka persists with usual pertinacity, and is the sole cause of the present difficulty, more so, I believe, because a special messenger was not sent to him. Richard Brown talks of offering Wairaka to the Government, in exchange for the Reserve at Omata, consisting of about 10 acres, and running down to the landing-place. His argument is it will cost Government more to get the natives off than the Reserve is worth. Do you think he will get it? Smart went to Auckland, and saw the Governor about his case with Te Ahoaho and others. From all I can learn, he gained but little, if any, good. Much better await your return, and the influence of a little gold - always supposing iron messengers prohibited - to arrange that