Gisborne, Poverty Bay. September 15th. 1870. My dear Sir, After reading the correspondence about Rapata I hope you will exonerate me from any ill will towards him or even officiousness. I assure you I have studiously tried to avoid any unpleasant feeling springing up in his mind that I was trying to come K O over him. Porter who wrote the letter for me went rather farther than I intended. My object was to get Rapata to hurry the men down by threatening to charge them with the detention. Believe me Yours very truly, Chas. Westrup. Rapata dined with one day last week and we are on excellent terms again. I believe he has now arranged to go in the schooner 'Colonist' sailing tomorrow. C.W.