Napier, Sept. 14th, 1867 Sir, In continuation of my report of last mail. I have the honor to inform your Honor that everything is as usual. - dull. The St. Kilda was expected to arrive prior to this and hopes were entertained that you would have made some arrangements to transmit money by her so as to relieve the present depression - what I regret to say I imagine is mostly due to those who have found but are too cautious and are waiting for better times before lending it. Mr. Richardson stable took fire the other evg. and communicated to it to Mr. Kinross's store. - part of which hadto/be pulled down in order to stop its further progress - if the wind had been blowing from the Westward. Nothing could have saved the spit. It would have been a fearful conflagration. The Maori feast came off - one instance was very good - illustrative of the Hapuku - After he became possessive of the grog-he would not give any one a single drop, unless they gave him 5/- a bottle. Even Tariha had to send to Napier for some. The feast was a return to the Hapuku - but your Honor of course knew what it was for. The Heu Heu has been in and is prepared to go on with the Road you wrote to him about - on receiving /- per diem for labour and 7/- for overseers. He wanted Mr. Rhodes to advance him sugar, tobacco etc. on a/c of the proposed work, but he said to await your return. One of the Police was drawing water at the Irrigration well when his foot slipped and he went head formos into 10 feet of water - the well was 80 feet deep - he had only a slight scractch on his forehead. A lot of women pulled him up - on arriving at the top of the well his face being wet the blood ran over it and gave him the appearance of being cut all over. The women screamed and very nearly let him drop back again - he walked home with 2 buckets of water all right - and is performing duty. The Country is commencing to look quite green - we have got the Korau wire. It seems there is a division between Col. Lambert and Mr. Russell. one wants to use native troops the other not - they have had a quarrel over it and speak openly against each other. As the mail is closing I put all others letters only this in the post I have send your Honor the 2 last papers. Inspector Scully takes this to Mr. Routledge and if any thing else transpires before steamer leave s I will duly acquaint your Honor with the same. The signing of the Memorial is getting on well - but it has not arrived from Porangahau yet, nor from Wairoa. Inspector asks me to tell your Honor that all is going on well at the House and that he knows I am sure to have informed your Honor if every thing He has told me all the news he could gather. Mr. Wilson does not seem to be so partially energetic on behalf of Mr. Russell and Lambert he seems to be imprest with the uselessness of such a proceeding. Mr. Worgan Wairoa worked very energetically in getting up the Meeting in Wairoa - wrote and done everything nearly. I will now conclude and hope your Honor will enjoy your trip. I have the honor to be Sir, Your most obt. st., Geo. Thos. Fannin