Taranaki, 17 March, 1860. Sir, From the present combination among the Native tribes around this settlement I feel it my duty to report to your Excellency that the present military force is not sufficient for the protection of the place. It is stated on good authority that the Ngatiruanui and Taranaki tribes mustering 1200 warriors are prepared to make an attack on the town while William King and his immediate followers at least 300 strong will fight to the last at the Waitara. Independent of this combination it is much to be apprehended now that the Natives have buried the hatchet among themselves and yielded allegiance to King Potatau that the powerful Waikatos several thousand strong and many of the numerous and disaffected tribes of the East Coast in the vicinity of Poverty Bay may be implicated in the present contest with a view of asserting their national independence and throwing off their nominal allegiance to Her Majesty. These circumstances together with the manifest symptoms of bad feeling recently displayed by the Natives induces me to urge most respectfully on your Excellency the necessity of obtaning a stronger force without delay for the protection of the English settlements and for vindicating Her Majesty's sovereignty over the Island. I am of opinion that it would require a force of not less than 5000 men to defend the various isolated and scattered settlements of the North Island. I have the honor to remain, Sir, Your most obt. servant, Donald McLean, Native Secretary. To:-- Gore Browne