New Plymouth. April 16 1860. My dear Sir I am very sorry to inform you that the state of feeling between the Military authorities, and Civilians has not improved. Since you left, some very strong articles have appeared in the Nelson Paper, one a letter written by a Volunteer ()which Colonel Gold has very unwisely (I think) made a great fuss about. On several occasions at Parade he has attempted to coerce the men to tell who wrote the letter. On the question being put to each seperately about 2/3 replied ''I refuse to answer such a question''. Some threats were held out, to try them by ''Court Martial''. A remonstrance was written, and sent to the Colonel, which I fancy, had some weight, but still he is carrying the enquiry on, in a way not calculated, in a way not salculated to diminish the existing bad feeling. In fact without a material change I fully expect a great deal of unpleasantness yet, unless the arrival of the Australian reinforcements should be ''. Your recommendation with reference to the Irregular