. New Plymouth May 21 1859. My dear Sir, On Monday last I went with Mr. Deighton to Hare Tipene's Kainga, on the south bank of Waitotara, and had a view of the block which appeared to me equal to the Mangaraka district the road over which we passed from Otataka to Waitotara was good and I should imagine that a trifling outlay would open the block from one end to the other. As Aperahama Parea was at the Ihupuku, I sent for him, and on the following morning (Tuesday) at his wish, we all went up the river about a mile to a place called Wainui -- here our meeting took place and lasted till 3 p.m. when it was decided that the boundary inland should commence at Okiore and be carried on to Wainui -- a line giving us at a rough guess 7 miles inland one way and perhaps 4 miles inland the other way, as shewn by accompanying tracing. Not exactly liking the western boundary I first endeavoured to carry a direct line from Otawa to Waitotara, as proposed at Putiki by Hori Kingi, Aperahama Parea and others, and afterwards from Okiore to Waitotara in a line parallel with the above, but failed owing to a party of Ngatiporou natives who were armed and sent down to prevent the line being taken inland of Wainui -- they placed 3 loaded guns along and outside the defined boundary which was staked out and a rope stretched across to avoid mistake without attaching any particular importance to this demonstration I thought it better not to press my point, but leave them to consider it -- meanwhile I accepted the block offered which was launched into the sea without a single opposing voice, and small as it is I regarded the purchase highly valuable to the Wellington Province and important to this in its future bearings on the land question. Hare Tipene then decided that the cutting of the line should begin at Okiore, after which our meeting broke up and at the request of Aperahama I left with him and his immediate people for the Ihupuku. A long korero then took place, and Aperahama (who took no part at the meeting) declared that as all were agreed that the boundary should begin at Okiore, he would accompany the surveyor and have the line cut as proposed by me at the meeting -- in this case the value of the block will be greatly increased as a fine tract of country at present included will be thrown in. Aperahama further assured me that he would go to work (meaning arrange for another piece of land) during my absence, and then write to you. On Wednesday morning I left Waitotara and arrived here yesterday afternoon. I found the Ngatiruanui and Taranaki natives quite recinciled to the purchase, proving the soundness of action taken by you in closing the negotiation regardless of the threatened opposition from these tribes. Whilst at Umuroa, when supposed to be asleep, I overheard a little conversation between my guide Hone, of Wareroa, son of Hanatana, and W. K. Matakatea. Hone (a well disposed young chief) told Matakatea that Ngatiruanui had decided when attacking Ngarauru if they offered to sell the land between Waitotara and Patea, but as many of his people wished to avoid trouble, it was at the same time decided to collect money at once for Aperahama in order to turn him and present any more land being sold to the pakehas. Matakatea replied that the iwi (Ngatiruanui) was very hard and foolish, as for himself he had seceded from the King movement, and thought Ngarauru had better be left alone. I also heard amongst Ngatiruanui natives that in the event of a good price being given by the Government for the Waitotara block, the Ukanga pupuri whenua would soon cease. I give you this as I received it, at the same time I confess my belief that there is much in it. I shall send you my journal by next mail, and hope soon to hear of your return to Wellington. Wi Tako and party arraved at Moturoa this morning. Faithfully yours, H. Halse. The peace question is being persevered in, and but for Teito, who seems to control W. Kingi, would have been brought to a conclusion long ago.