in a harbour; but this does not operate so much to injure the settlement as the want of land, which appears to be the only obstacle to our advancement; and we cannot perceive that necessary exertions are used to obtain so desirable an object. He has sent up his son Henry, with an assessor from Wellington, to persuade and deter the natives from disposing of their land. I fear the kind treatment shewn to many of the Chiefs of influence, tends in a strong degree, to excite their cupidty, and to destroy the good intended. All here are well, but we have lost many excellent and desirable settlers, for want of land. Can you strain a point, and come up without delay, and use your best exertions with the natives, to relieve us from the "slough of despond." The cattle have been rather troublesome at Tartarai, or, more properly speaking, getting into trouble at Kaiihi. Honi has been unwell, and laid up for some time; of course unable to look after the herd so well in consequence, and they frequently stray. Some have even got across the stream; and on Friday last, the natives seized one of the cows, and fastened it up with a rope, under the pretence that it had eaten their Carraccas. Willy applied for it, but they refused to restore her. I don't know how it may end; but I suppose Thos. Williams will settle it. You have no doubt heard that C. Brown is married to Miss Horn, the younger; and I wish you could have seen with what solemnity I performed the