Mount Herbert 8th April 1865 My dear Lambert I recd. your note and am glad to hear you are hard at work putting things to rights. The news from Poverty Bay is sufficiently alarming, and ought to be a warning to us to be prepared. Two of the Ninia chiefs at Patangata - Hemi and Wipupuru have joined the Pai Marire and it is a fact that they had a Pah and flag flying on it. Some drunken Maori from Waipawa cut the Pole down one night much to the horror of the fanatics. Some of the young men of the Patangata and Te Mute lot have also joined, I was told by a Maori today. I shall sign the exchange paper with Carlyon as soon as it is sent me. Mr. St. George sent for the arms and ammunition the other day from the Court House. I authorised them to give it up. I hear Coupers store at Waipawa is littered with arms and ammunition, and it ought to be removed to a place of safety as soon as possible. Write me a note by Egham (who is going to Napier tomorrow) to let me know what is going on. Mrs. Russell, Bessie and Sophia all join me in kindest regards Yours always H. R. Russell Major Lambert P. S. With regard to the new arrangement of the Companies no doubt something should be done, but I think giving Herrick all north of Waipawa River would cut down No. 6 o a very small number. He ought to have Hampden and the plains as far as the Waipawa Gorge - the Manganuku the river that comes by Carlyons and Tanners to be the Boundary on the east - Te Aute as far as the Boundary of Staked Run on the West and north and to Pokowa - thence to NgaWhakatatari - and to include Spencer Curling's squad in the east. Ormond will I suppose be in Napier within a few days Yours H.R.R. Will you apply and get a good Revolver for me for which I will pay. The Govt. ought to furnish them at cost price but not such things as they sent down to Aithers which were of no use. I must also have a Regulations sword. You know how to get these things good and not too expensive.