Patea, 12-7-70 My dear Mr. Fox, I did not expect to receive a note from you, at this busy time - I have just returned from Waihi where I have been to look after my new Detachment - The position is very delapidated and no accommodation whatever for Europeans - so I have them busy in cutting and preparing timber to make slab blockhouses capable of accommodating them comfortably and making an impregnable position all this I purpose doing without expense to Govt. except for nails and windows - Blake is down or will be in a day or so - Can you do anything for him - he has made an excellent map of the country and tracks explored during the last war. I would like if you could induce 50 of the Ngatipoo to return - they are very willing at least, they were before leaving - I was very glad to get them out of Patea, of course when back here to their old temptations I had little control and I hesitated to bring the Constabulary into collision with them in preserving order. I first warned the publicans that if I had trouble with the natives through drunkenness I should close them all till they left - as it was they had a great row, wh. fortunately I happened to over hear - and fearing mischief went myself - and found about 30 mad Ngatiporo trying to force Quinlan's house had forced one door off its hinges broke the windows - raging against the Pakeha, my picquet inside keeping civilians and Maories apart as well as they could - my sudden appearance amongst them created a hush on all sides, the Drunken Ngatiporo furious at opposition, the most orderly amongst them at the appearance of ''Te Meiha'' slunk off and the remainder staggering accompanied me to their wharre where they turned in. I took care to head them out of the place the next day - Your policy will have the support of the country if not of the House as at present constituted - I trust you will be enabled to carry it out - I am very sanguine - it is a grand scheme - and requires but to be put in practice to ensure success. I am very glad your efforts on this coast are appreciated as they should be - I am sorry that the applicants for loans have been unable to get it yet, doubtless it is their own fault - as in Balls case - they are very stupid as a rule and require showing how to do everything. I have received another sum by onight's mail to pay in the Loan a/c - By the way - What is Pharazyn doing - I handed over all these things to him, nevertheless, I find that they send most of this back to me - The Lawyers sent me up the Deeds to them signed correctly - in itself no trifling matter seeing one man would be at Hawera another at Waitotara - I paid 1600 away the other day - I suppose Pharazyn is very busy amongst records etc. below - if so, I'll do anything to facilitate matters - if not - then it would be better, if he were in the District again for a time - There is a matter wants seeing to here badly - that is - people here have a difficulty in Registering their births, deaths and marriages, the Registers being in New Plymouth and Wanganui for Taranaki and Welln. provs. I have had several complaints one no later than today from one of the Middhemiss. If there is a salary attached to the office of Registrar, I would like you to give it to my clerk Mr. Meredith - if not then you had better appoint me, for this reason I am continually moving about the District and the Parents of Children would in most instances be saved a journey of many miles - My business as R. M. has increased very considerably. Mr. Meredith is a clerk, and a good young man - he has agreat deal of work to do - he is my Militia Clerk for wh. he gets 6/s per diem the same as a Constable - he also officiates as Clerk to the bench - it would be an act of Justice to appoint Clerk to the bench and give him £50 a year in addition to his other pay - he is worth it and deserving - Thank you for looking after my interest in re - Wright - I have employed Counsel, with the view of bringing home to him a clear case of perjury. The case itself falls through of its own weakness. I have been told that he is backed up by others some Taranaki people, the idea is to get compensation from Govt. I am sorry the Commission is not required to enquire into all the charges he made in his letter to Govt. Mr. Hirst is at the bottom of a great deal of the absurdities - he is a sneak of the worst kind - Brown has sent me the Hansard -Many thanks I shall look forward with the greatest interest to the ensuing debates, the result I have little doubt of. My heartiest wishes for your success personally and politically - My Wife joins me in very kind remembrances to Mrs. Fox. Yours very sincerely M. Noake