Wellington 3rd. April 1866. Dear Maclean, I am just off up the Wairarapa to see Wi Waka and give him a piece of my mind. I shall try and run up to Napier by the Ashley on the 24th. to talk over various matters with you, chiefly the fuue defence of the Province.- Military settlements - getting rid of Prisoners etc. If convenient I should like to visit Poverty Bay etc. with you. Nothing very new here. Kennedy got the 4th. prize - Otago the 2 first Wairarapa the 3rd. Serancke seems satisfied that mischief is brewing at Hangatik and Kawhia - he says the Natives are becoming so much more bounceable there. I am not clear however that the meeting is for warlike purposes. The Wanganui River up in Taupo is reported by the Natives to be now quite tired of war and anxious for peace. Wi Waka and his Wairarapa mob are also anxious to take the oath of allegiance - but they are a queer people not easy to ckon on. Yours very truly, A.H. Russell.