New Plymouth January 3rd, 1847 Sir, I have taken advantage of Private St.George starting for the Coast tomorrow morning to send you the accompanying report which has been in readiness for your perusal since the 19th December last - Knowing your wish for details I have therein touched upon every circumstance that has occurred to me as worthy of being named in connection with the Settlement. If I have entered at too great length on some subjects and not dwelt sufficiently on others you will confer a favor by informing me where the error lays, so that on a future occasion I may be enabled to rectify it. Sergeant Halse has in accordance with his instructions given you an account of our proceedings during your absence. I have therefore nothing to say on this head except that your orders have been punctually attended to with regard to the day and night duties. I regret to have been under the necessity of reporting Privates Guy and Campbell, the former for neglect of duty, and the latter for intoxication; but it is necessary that the men should see that whether their commanding officer is present or absent the same good conduct and attention to their duties is required of them - I however have to express a hope that the fine you will inflict on these men will be light; Christmas is a merry season all over the world and the arrears of pay having been paid up just at this time will I trust in some degree extenuate their infringement on the regulations of the Force - I was at the Barracks yesterday, a day or two more the workmen tell me will complete all that is to be done at present. The house is large and well put together but from not being lined has an unfinished appearance - On Wednesday the 30th December the long talked of amateur concert took place at Mr.Davies; the long room was most tastefully fitted up and a temporary building adjoining erected for the additional accomodation of the parties invited. All the beauty and fashion New Plymouth could boast, was there and young and old seemed equally delighted with the evenings entertainment. The whole of the Amateurs exerted their vocal talents to the utmost, and Mr.Newland especially, sung with great taste and feeling that song called "Taranaki" (written by Mr. John Hursthouse) of all the songs none seemed to afford greater pleasure to the hearers than this. On New Years day a large party had a pic nic at the Waitara - 5 bullock carts started at an early hour in the morning filled with our aristocracy and a 6th conveyed the provender consisting of all the delicacies of the season R.Brown had made up a party to go down in Cookes dray to be drawn by Sandy and Jack, your humble servant to act as Jehu, lots of good fare had been prepared with a barrell of George's best stout to wash it down, but the old French proverb, Man proposes, and God disposes, was very applicable in this case, for neither the dray nor the provisions ever reached the Waikara very much to the annoyance of those who were anxiously waiting to dispose of the latter - How this came to pass I shall proceed at once to explain; R.Brown, the Doctor and myself had started between 10 and 11 o'clock in the morning in the dray intending to take up Cooke and others at the Hua; My brother having been previously dispatched to inform them we were on our way - We found Sandy rather troublesome on starting but after getting him into the Fraser (?) Line he went on very well until we had crossed the Henui river at the ford recently made - by dint of flogging we got him half way up the hill but here he made a stop, and almost immediately commenced backing which he continued to do until he backed the dray off the road and afterwards into the river, Brown was thrown head foremost into the river, and I was not long in following him accompanied by the barrell of beer and sundry fowls and hams. The doctor fortunately for him had previously got out and while walking leisurely across the bridge was a witness to our accident which seemed to afford him much amusement. We had the good luck to escape without a scratch but the shafts being broken were obliged to return to town in a very miserable plight. We however subsequently managed to get to the Waitara on horseback where we found Cooke Mantell and Davy anxiously awaiting our arrival; they looked very disconsolate when we told the sad tale, but the ladies took compassion on us and kindly invited us all to partake of a capital dinner to which they were at that moment sitting down. The whole party afterwards adjourned to the karaka Island and took tea on the same spot you on a former occasion fixed your tent - it was late when we got back but all seemed very well satisfied with the events of the day - I have the honor to remain, Sir, Your most obt.servt. R. R.Aubrey Donald McLean Esqre. Inspector of Police