Auckland August 7th. 1869. My dear McLean, I have sent you all the Official intelligence I have, from Waikato. Searancke is not a very reliable person, or one whose opinions are very reliable. He is generally in an extreme funk, or in thoughtless over confidence. I don't know whether the behavious of Waikato, in reference to Te Kooti, is quite intelligible to you; but I confess that I am not able to interpret it in any way favourably to the maintenance of peace, for a very long time. There is a passionate desire on the part of the Waikato natives, just now, to get arms and ammunition, and they are getting both, in considerable quantities; chiefly, I believe, through the agency of the natives settled at Mangere with Honana te Waioho, a relative of Tawhiao. We have captured one scoundrel European, and I am going to employ a detective to look after the Mangere lot. It would be politic, I think, if we could get at the Europeans, to let the natives off lightly; and you will have to consider the question raised by Naughton, as to his power to institute proceedings. The Act seems to contemplate the giving a authority, and a special one in Native cases, or in each native case the Attorney General should advise about it; and I shall be glad to have either Official instructions, or an expression of your views on the question, privately, for my guidance. 80 men of the Armed Constabulary from Whakatane have gone up to Waikato. Moule will reduce his force there by the discharge of some, if not all, of the Militia; but I think that for a few days longer, at any rate, none of the men sent up should be withdrawn. I hope the Government will, at the last, refuse to allow a soldier to be removed from any post in the Colony. I cannot avoid looking with great fear to the departure of the Troops. Clarke, at Tauranga, who has never been an alarmist, just now croaks woefully, and appears to be persuaded that great trouble is near to us. I suppose that by this time your Session is nearly over. I hope you have got plenty of money. Te Kooti will regulate your expenditure. I am, yours very truly. (Signed) Daniel Pollen. P.S. I enclose a letter from Major Cooper, and one also from Mr. Morgan, - a nephew of old Morgan of Otawhao, for your information.