Napier Oct. 21/57/ My dear McLean, I have very little news to give you by this mail. The Natives have had fight No. 2 with trifling loss, and everything "as you were". I am delighted no hear of the success of the Ministerial loan --- I suppose that will make all right now. We had a great meeting yesterday to petition for troops, Rhodes and T. FitzGerald being the prime movers, & Curling strongly in favour. But it wouldn't work, although they had everything cut & dry & a regularly packed meeting. Colenzo & I spoke against them, both making long speeches --- I think I spoke for about an hour and thought I was never going to stop. They all tell me it was a very effective speech. At any rate we carried the majority of the meeting with us, most of whom had attended on purpose to petition for troops (that is Commissariat). Rhodes' fire and fury resolutions were rejected utterly --- after a long time Dyett (!) only could be got to second them, so Curling would not put them to the vote. Ferguson then moved that Genl. Govt. be petitioned to afford the means of carrying out the law, either by police, military, or other means. Colenzo proposed and carried by a large majority an amendment to erase "military", so you will someday see a petition for strong police which will I suppose be sent to the Provl. Govt. and so shelved. The real truth is that the District is in no worse a state than when I first arrived. I enclose a part of lastweek's Herald --- containing 2 or 3 letters. Grindell's is I fancy Alexander's --- it is a good one nevertheless. You will seeone from me in juxtaposition with Teddy Watt's speech which called it forth. I need not take up time in alluding further to it as the whole thing speaks for itself. I was greatly disappointed at not hearing from you per O.M., but your brother showed me a letter he had received from which I learn that it will be yet some time ere you arrive. I have accordingly made up my mind to go to Wellgtn per steamer which will sail about 27 or 28th. inst. and return per next trip, in about a month. I am to this from letter I have received from Wellington per Shepherdess. In the first place I hear that Miss R. is very ill, and besides that my private affairs imperatively that I should see Dan.as once. As you have led me into this scrape I must trust to your pulling me through. My departure from Napier will be a "bolt", for I shall not tell a living sould I am doing nothing here, but waste the public time and my own money to nopurpose, so I'm off. I will leave letters behind me for you. I must now conlcude as the messenger is waiting for the letters, Ever faithfully, G.S. Cooper.