Napier, 5th May, 1865. My dear Weld, I have had a Meeting today with Hapuku Tarika and several other Chiefs I expressed the strongest disapproval of Hapuku's recognition of the Hauhau and asked the Chiefs to order such dangerous fanatics out of the Province. Several of them agreed to do so if certain disputes between teHapuku and Tarika on one side and Karaitiana and Renata on the other side were adjusted. I proposed as a means of adjusting those disputes to have them referred to impartial Chiefs from other districts. I propose to have another Meeting tomorrow and again on Monday. I have got my hands quite full but I believe my efforts up to the present have been upon the whole successful. The friendly Natives at the Wairoa behaved admirably at the risk of their lives they met and set at defiance a body of nearly double their of the Hauhau. Matters are still in an unsettled state at the Wairoa some of the Hauhau and Waikato's are prowling about they have threatened to murder Kopu the principal Chief who is obliged to sleep with loaded arms and keep a guard over his person - I notice what you say about the Military settlers, I could not get a sufficient number of volunteers for immediate service, a steamer was sailing to Auckland I thought it best in the emergency to get men from Auckland at once. I feel satisfied that the outlay incurred in adopting preventative measures is quite insignificant as compared with the expenditure that must be incurred if hostilities once break out. I am sending an official request now that the troops are being ordered to winter quarters to have one regiment of them here, I am sure it would have a most salutary effect on this East coast even if you removed them again when spring operations are resumed. I regard the East coast now as the most difficult part to manage, having remained neutral so long they are now becoming infected with the fascination of a new faith and it requires vigilance and care with the presence of some force, as I may say that we have comparatively none except friendly Natives to rely upon, and while they are in a minority something is necessary to afford them countenance and support, besides I do not see that it would be more expensive to have them quartered here during the winter than at any other place while I feel convinced that their presence would produce a greater effect than having so many in quarters where they are really not required. I am not writing to Mantell as I hear he is at Auckland. I remain, My dear Weld, Yours sincerely, (Sigd.) Donald McLean.