Auckland, April 30. 60 My Dear McLean, We tried hard to send the Caroline to you on Saturday but as she could not be got out before tomorrow we send the Airedale with a boat to Raglan and Cawhia. We propose that the Airedale shall take on all whom you choose to send on board her to Nelson -- Any who wish to come here may be dropped at New Plymouth and wait more opportunity of coming up from thence - Your letters are all dated on the same day and not numbered but I conclude the one reporting danger aT Cawhia is the last. Whittaker does not think he can enforce removal on any settlers who do not choose to leave -- The most wicked and absurd rumours of my intentions regarding peace have been circulated and believed everywhere. I think they have been caused by a great misapprehension on the part of Taumati Ngapoura -- I had two long interviews with him and Takrei on Friday. Takrei appeared very anxious that the war should be confined to the Taranaki side of the Waitera, to which I assented we were not assailed by those on the North bank. He insisted on it that we had possession of the cliffs at Mokau and had laid an ambush for the Ngaturuinuis on their return -- I told him we had no troops there but could only pacify him by giving him a pass to the Officer Commanding at Mokau, which he promises to return to me when he finds no one there. He asked my views about peace and I told him that I entirely separated King from the Taranaki and Ngaturuinui tribes. That I was not a stealer of land but that the disputes between King's people and the Europeans had become so acrimonious that we could not hope for peace while we occupied the same country -- That it would therefore be desireable that he should propose to cede his land on the South and cross to the North bank of the Waitera and that this river should be the boundary between and ours -- In reference to the other tribes I said we must have the murderers given up and must arrange some other boundary between us: that the proposal must come from them. Col. Gold has not adopted our plan of a campaign but writes me from Tataraimaka where he was encamped with about 600 men. He talks of chastising the rebels and I hear, but not from him, that he was to attack a very strong Pah flanked by Bush and a swamp the day after the steamer left. New Plymouth and Nelson were holding indignation meetings because they heard that I had sent orders to stop the fighting. For this I am indebted to the Examiner and Mr. Purchase. Takrei made no objection but on the other hand he did not assent to the terms of peace I suggested -- I believe however the less said about peace, at present, the better. The pedigree of Tailor has arrived and I believe it proves him to have a prior or superior right to that of King -- Mahoro also writes a famous letter which I send -- Takrei has seen them both and expresses himself satisfied. Manning has been here to offer his services and those of 1000 Ngapuhi's and Takrei particularly begs I will not bring the Ngapuhis here. I said that must depend on the Waikatos -- The one would come if the other did but not otherwise. Manning assured me most positively that, long I went to Taranaki, five Waikato Chiefs, two of whom were Assessors and one of them was Kukutai met some Ngapuhi Chiefs in Auckland and asked their adhesion to a plan for recovering the Sovereignty of the Island and driving the European Govt. away -- Manning promises to make the chiefs to whom this proposal was made send it to me in writing -- !! Cawan hints or rather says distinctly that there was some plan of this sort and that it was agreed on at the meeting at Waiuku. Takrei says in adopting his present course he is only following Mr. Maunsel's advice given at a public meeting. Cawan is gone to Ngaruawhia to the meeting and Mr. Turton has gone to Wellington to reside for the present. I think this is all. You must use your own judgement, be guided by circumstances as they arise and act for the best, resting assured of my support. Always, Yours sincerely, T. Gore Browne. The meeting of Chiefs in Auckland is announced for 2 July in the papers. Napier is one of Hadfields people who petitions for my recal -- The petition is largely signed but not by Hadfield himself. I shall have to ask you to make a clear statement of Teire's title to the land -- an explanation of Mana with Tere's pedigree etc.etc.for the Sec. of those to be sent by next mail -- Perhaps therefore you will think over it in any spare moments you may have.