Auckland Feby. 3rd. 1871. My dear Mr. McLean, There is very little reliable news from the Waikato. Dr. Pollen tells me that you heard before you left Auckland on Tuesday night last that two Europeans had been fired on, and that Tapehema had detached a party of 8 to kill and destroy. I believe in spite of what has appeared in this mornings "Southern Cross" as a true and faithful account of the circumstances of the case that it is not true. With regard to Rewi having gone with a party of 150 to stop the road and telegraph it has proved to be greatly exaggerated. Rewi simply went to take those of his people who were at work on the Niho o te Kiore road away. The person who just reported also corrected his statement this morning Perenara and Hitiri Paeratas party write to you to say not to take any notice of the reports in circulation as to the stoppage of the work, and under this view of the case I certainly would let them go on. Letters from Tuhoro this norning. The one to yourself is not very intelligible the ones to Paora Tuhaere and myself are to the point. Tuhoro says that he has been to Te Kuiti and that Manuhiri is obstinately determined to prevent any Government people going into the Waikato King Country, but that Manga does not see any reason why they should not be allowed to go. Things do not look nice at present - Tuhoro is anxious and I am afraid that we shall be obliged to have a brush and try conclusions. Our great work now is to detach the King Sympathisers - I shall leave by the "Go ahead" tomorrow for Tauranga. She is to take the freight to Whakatane. I hope to be able to travel inland a little and will sound the exact state of Arawa feeling in the event of its being necessary to operate on the Waikato. The public are becoming outrageous and the unemployed and loafing people of Waikato ask "What is the Govt. about" and these are the very men who in the event of losses and trouble will turn upon the Govt. and charge them with precipitancy and want of forethought. I most earnestly hope that there will be no fighting but if we are forced into it I only hope it will be done thoroughly. I shall send Mair to Auckland as soon as the Elections are over, he is greatly needed in the Waikato. I do not know what they are about - the KatiKati mail has been again stopped by Tukukino and Hohepa Te Rauhini. Puckey has made some arrangement with Wi Hopihoua to take the mail over the Kati, and from the determined temper of the little man I expect he will succeed. There was a report secretly conveyed to me by Hoterini Taipari yesterday morning the Ngatimaru and Ngati tamatera headed by Te Moananui had gone to eject the Ngatihaua from the Aroha block - I telegraphed to Puckey yesterday but have not yet got a reply. I believe Puckey was absent at Ohinemuri -he returned yesterday. It is now past one o'clock p.m. but have heard nothing. I must close this hurried line. Very faithfully yours, Hy. T. Clarke.