Native Office Wellington Octr.29, 1874 My dear Sir Donald Very little office news to convey. Have at last succeeded in getting the troublesome Paraekaretu deed Registered and all difficulty in that direction is ended - Major Heaphy telegraphed to Mr.Wardell to obtain information on a Wairarapa deed, as usual the Vendors state that they have only received a of the payment. I never in all my Maori experiences saw such a mendaceous set as those Wairarapa natives are. The Governor leaves this on Monday for Otaki. I sent circulars to the principal Chiefs on Monday last telling them that the Governor would meet them on Tuesday the 3 Novr. Young will be in attendance - I mentioned to Dr.Pollen that in all probability Karauama Te Kapukai and Eru Tahitangata would take an opportunity of complaining to the Governor about W. Parata and Booth in respect to their land transactions - And that perhaps the Governor should be made aware of it, as he complained on a previous occasion of not having been put on his guard of the Wi Katene scandal in the North - I have written a memo to Dr.Pollen reminding him that Karauama petitioned the Legislative Council on the same subject and on enquiry it was found that Karauama could not substantiate any of his statements and got a severe repremand from the Chairman of the Committee for his unfounded charges - Mr.Morehouse called upon me yesterday and told me that he had heard from his brother at Murimotu that matters were not looking well there - I directly telegraphed to Booth that it was a great pity he did not take more active steps to counteract any mischief that might be set on foot. It does not appear that he sent Wirihana and Buller to see what was going on although instructed to do so, and now they are detained Supreme Court business. Parris is in the Patea district and I have telegraphed to him to look into the matter of the stoppage of Surveys and Riddles matter also. His letter of instruction will have gone on to Taranaki. To save him a journey therefore I telegraphed to him - I have also instructed Capns.Wrey and Blake to give him all the assistance they can in their power. I got a telegram from Kemp to say that a sad accident had occurred at the Bay. The Chief Pewiri Tarapata and his sons (who were whaling) got fast to a whale - which dragged them out to sea - a storm came on and nothing of them has been seen since - the two relief boats succeeding in making the land - crews in a very exhausted state. I send you some private letters addressed to you which have arrived here since you left. Very faithfully yours, Hy. T. Clarke.