Tauranga January 25th. 1870 9 o'clock p.m. My dear Mr. McLean, I have just returned from Maketu. The Arawa are moving. They are concentrated at Ohinemutu. Fox and his people start for Maketu to-morrow. I laid our plans of marching direct from this to Kinanui (?) before a runanga of Chiefs selected from amongst the different hapus, and esteemed men of judgment. They one and all condemn the line proposed, and have advocated the line of Piriaka as recommended by McDonnell. Consequently I have recommended the adoption of the Piriaka route to Fraser, who will be off as soon as the ''Sturt'' arrives. I will hurry on as fast as I can. I go in the ''Rotorua'' to-morrow. The Arawas strongly urge my going through to P ..... (?) with them. But I have shown them that even if I were persomally able to undertake the march, it is necessary that we should keep a sharp look out from this direction. I believe Te Kooti -- if he is lucky enough to escape -- will come into this district, and try to cross through Rotorua, doing all the mis- -chief he can on the way. I have decided, as soon as the Arawas have started from Rotorua, to run down the Coast in the ''Sturt'', and get up a force of Whanawa Apanui -- Ngaitai and Ngatipukeko, and occupy Oropi. This will effectually guard one of the available points here, protect Maketu and Rotorua, and severely punish Te Kooti, if he shows up. I am obliged to get these people, for the simple reason that I cannot trust any more of these Ngatirangi. One of them has already bolted to the Hau Haus; and of course, to Te Kooti. I feel particularly sorry for this. Eori Tapuaea, and some of the neutrals have drawn off to Kati Kati; and a few others are not particularly well behaved. This makes it doubly important that we should keep a sharp look out here. The force I propose to get from the Coast will number 150; the Arawas who go with Fraser, about 350. I have offered the bonus you proposed, for Te Kooti, dead or alive, -- £1,000. Fraser is very anxious to be off, but it is absolutely necessary that we should be prepared for any emergency. I am afraid that McDonnell has been rather precipitate, but that cannot be helped now. Our course is clear. We must make the best of our position. The ''Luna'' has made an extraordinarily quick trip, 10 hours only, but rather heavy expense. Oh! the expenditure will be heavy indeed now, and it will be necessary to hurry matters on as quickly as possible. I send you a Memo. of information, taken down by Mair, the elder. I think the intelligence of may be depended on. He is the spy I sent. I note your remarks about supplies for Arawas. I do not expect to get back from Rotorua before Friday. faithfully yours (Signed) H.T. Clarke. P.S. I send you a sketch plan, as drawn by the Arawas. I think when you see the great number of roads open to Te Kooti for escape, you will agree that they are right in the course they recommend.