tribe that a public meeting was to be held in a few days, preparatory to a formal cession of the land in question, to the Europeans. I met the messengers, neatly dressed, one of them with a blue and scarlet coat, passing through as a herald of great importance, with notes of invitation to the several Taranaki tribes or families, at their respective villages. The anxiety I have lately entertained as to the safety of the settlers, from the small force of police at my disposal, and from the awkwardness of an untrained Militia, should they be called out, has very much