Auckland 12th Nov. 1864 My dear Sir, Very glad to hear of your success at Wairoa and Portland island. If some of the land is not of first quality, still any sale at present is a satisfactory indication. The Ngatiporo are talking of a sale at Waiapu, and I think there is a turn of the tide there, though scarcely definite enough yet to justify the location of a R.M. which they ask for. The Peace Proclamation seems not to have had much effect here. I was in Waikato till yesterday and could hear nothing of it. Old Naylor said "it was all right to say let there be peace, but the King party would not listen. They considered that it meant the surrender of their "Rangatira tanga", and that those who accepted of its terms would become "taurekarekas". "How about Thompson?" I asked - "Well perhaps - bye and bye." was the answer. Thompson's son a lad of 18 or 20 has signed the declaration of allegiance and given up a gun at Awamutu, after which he started to see his father but was met by a message that if he came back he would shoot him. This may be true or not - but at all events the lad returned to Awamutu without going on. The Govr. is down at Mahurangi, trying to get Prisoners to come to terms. I don't think they want a row, but some of Ruirangi's relatives do, and would like to avail themselves of the chance. We are looking anxiously for the 21st. when we shall put on our hats and be releived from a very weary and irritating post. Beleive me, Yours very sincerely, William Fox