Kawhia 15 April 1845 My dear Sir, I can only say a few lines in reply to yours which came to hand the other day. I have seen Poharama and his party and have given them such advice as I thought suitable. But the misfortune is they have conceived the idea that all Pakehas are of the same party on the same side and that our interest is common. With respect to the land that old hopping Wunu had raised a dispute about he says he only wants it to cultivate for 2 or 3 years and then it will be abandoned to the white man, and that this is their purpose with regard to the other pieces which they have reserved for themselves within the block, but I do not place much onfidence in this statement you have a very difficult and unthankful office and and require all wisdom and grace from above to direct you aright. Endeavour by all means and by all kindness of manner to the natives to convince them that you are their friends for as we are entirely in their power it is useless and worse than useless to make much show of opposition. The settlers at least some of the newspaper scribblers would worry the Governor into a war of extermination before he had power to contend with a single tribe and a very pretty mess we should soon be in if they were in the Governor's place for a week or two. They blame him for the downfall of Kororarika I say - and I know as much about it as some of them - that if they had attempted to take Heke when he had the soldiers from Sydney he would have raised a storm which would have overturned not only Korararika town but would have proved fatal to its inhabitants as well - the settlers generally would have been massacred and Auckland would have been in ruins before this. I say the Governor adopted the only safe course on that occasion and let those who laugh at me for saying so think of Wairau and say what was to hinder that tragedy from being acted over again on a more terribly extended scale at the Bay of Islands and Auckland. The state of affairs is alarmingly bad but I have hope yet - not in the high sounding but ridiculously mad dangerous projects of those would be advisers of the Governor who would have him jump into the fire before he gets into the frying pan (to use a vulgar proverb) but in the Providence of God and the calmness and prudence of those whom he has placed at the head of affairs in this country. I must conclude Praying that you may have grace to acknowledge the Lord in all your ways that he may direct your steps. I remain Dr. Sir yours truly, J. Whiteley