Maketu Monday 31st. October 1870. My dear Mr. McLean, I came back from Kaitiriria yesterday having ridden 140 miles last week, and 140 the week before, making 280 miles in a fortnight - pack horses leave again tomorrow for Kaitiriria. My packing for this month is at the rate of 3 1/4d. 127/137 per lb. having taken up 5480 lbs of stores etc. We have had lovely weather for the last month. Dr. Armitage past through Maketu en route for Ruatahuna via Matata and the Teko last Saturday with 2 pack horses loaded with medical comforts. I hear that he has gone to Ruatahuna to cure some Uriweras that dieting off like sheep of fever. I trust that in a months time you will be able to Telegraph from Wellington to Tauranga. There has been another little bit of disturbance about the Telegraph poles at the Ngie - the Natives have been taking the arms and poles away. They are and Mr. Warbrick is waiting for Mr. Hamlin to come down, from Taupo, to have the Natives punished, it is only about the lenght of 11 poles - that the dispute is about. They (the Telegraph Party) have commenced putting the Office up at the Ngie - and I hope soon to see the whole line in working order. Capt. Gascoigne came back from Fort Galatea about 10 a.m. Saturday 29th. inst., He has been away from Kaitiriria for the last week. He told me that their ought to be a mounted Force on the plains. He also told me that Te Kooti has only 10 men with him at a place called Parati (I do not know if I have spelt that name right) but I do not believe that any one really knows where Te Kooti is. I hear their are 7 persons going to stand for the Bay of Plenty District - for the next Ejection - their names are Messrs James Foley - Chadwicks of Tauranga - William Kelly of Opotiki - Capt. James Skene late of 1st. Waikato Regt. Johnstone of Poverty Bay - Kissling a Lawyer in Auckland - Capt. Skeat of Tauranga - and I also hear that Mr. Samuels of the firm of Samuels and Jacobson Tauranga has been ask to stand. No news from Tauranga or any down the coast. The Natives are still busy packing up Flour - Sugar etc. inland - for themselves - they will suffer next year if they do not put in plenty of potatoes this season. I will write again next week, to you. Remaining Yours ever sincerely Herbert F. Way. P.S. The Telegraph Party move up to Oraki Korako next Friday or Saturday to finish the part that the dispute was about and which was settled by Mr. Warbrick. H.W.