Thames April 4th. 1872. My dear Sir, I have posted a letter to you today refuting Taraia's death. I telegraphed the information to you immediately on my return from Piaka and Waitoa. I have delayed sending this report until now as I heard on good authority that you would have been up in Auckld. last week. Taipari and I have been looking forward to your visit to Auckland in order if possible to complete the Aroha matter. All the Ngatimaru he tells me are now on our side in reference to that and would willingly lease the land for Gold mining - in that case we would soon be able to acquire valuable lands for Immigration and public works as a good many of the natives would sell. I was not favourably impressed with the Piako or Waitoa land and am preparing a short report of the present state of the purchases. But if we got our foot on to the Aroha the Waitoa land would be valuable it appears to me a great deal too much will have been given for the Waitoa land by the time the purchases will have been completed. I am very much pleased with the state of native affairs in the Piako. There is no doubt the concession of the Telegraph line by Te Hira will have an extremely good political effect. I write officially some time back to you about Wi Hotero telling me that he would be no longer a Hauhau. You may remember he went with Heta Tauranga and myself to Auckld. to see you about two years ago. He is an important man. The only point of interest which I have omitted in my official report in Taraias death is a remark by old Riwai to Kiori of Shortland with regard to his and was in reply to Tarapipipi who had said the kindness of the Govt. was only the kindness of a stranger - well, said Riwai, my Pakeha matua has kept his word and has never inflicted any wrong upon me or our district and if he has acted in a different manner to any other tribe it has been richly deserved. This coming from an old fellow like Riwai who used a little while ago in church to make a noise at the Queen's name denotes a change of feeling which is at least encouraging. Poor Power has lost his second child: the little thing died last evening. We have been getting on pretty well with the purchase of the foreshore. And now I think I want to close this rambling & to conclude with best respects. Your obt. Servt., E.WPuckey.