Private. My Dear McLean, Thank you for your letter of 31 August. Matters look fishy here as well as with you - Waata Kukutai is here and professes peace for the lower Waikato but I want faith - Rumours of all sorts reach us - I believe their is little doubt that Thomson, Rewi and Takrei are wavering. White wonted me to move in some way towards them but I declined on the score that any movement on my part would alarm and perhaps be used against us. We want you and Drummond Hay back very much - It is said Jeraiah is with Thomson and Hay might return on his usual circutions