New Plymouth, 30 Oct. 1856. Dear Sir, As the steamer is just off I pen a line to say how matters are. Nikorima and Ihaia have firmly established their party at Ikamoana and have just erected a fine new flagstaff. They and the Ninians went on Saturday to challenge Katatore to turn out and fight --- hut he loves life too well for that. Hone Ropiha has visited him to make peace but nearly all the Natives repudiate the act. No Peace they cry while the murderer lives on until he removes. I have thought of the following plan. Let as many missionaries as the different parties of natives like to chose Church and Wesleyan take the office of Arbitrators --- the Bishop of course would be included --- let them hear all the natives wish to say to them --- let them then meet in Committee and request the Governor to be their Chairman or Referee and let his decision as to land be final. I say "land" for it is a land quarrel from first to last and I think the Ninia and the Ikamoana people would be satisfied if the land were awarded to them on which their friends were slain. And why should it not be so? Katatore would perhaps object to such a division of the land as he wants to be king and lord of all. But is this reasonable? Pardon haste. You will see and exaggerated statement about Hone Ropiha breaking open the pound. The true state of the case leaves him not without fault, but much less faulty by far than is there represented. In haste Yours truly, J. Whitely.