Ravenswood Hotel Wairoa 29th. March 1866. To Honor The Superintendent. Sir, Some time ago I received a letter from you concerning the drunken state of the natives here. On the receipt of which and other matters as well, I started for Napier and found you had left for the South and consequently I did not see you. Now in justification to myself I wish distinctly to lay before you the exact state of affairs here. Before Mr. Hunter Brown left here we had Races at this place, and I had a tent upon the course, towards evening I saw a number of natives tipsy, and I began to enquire where they had got their grog from, and Daniel Lewis who had been assisting me all day told me to take a walk up the course, about half a mile, and behind some scrub, I found a tent and about one Hundred Natives of all sises and sexes tipsy as they could well be, and any quantity of spirits in cases and kegs. And at the present moment there are two native grog stores in the Wairoa, where any one can go and get a kohler same as at a Public House. A native the other day offered to sell me 30 galls Rum. The question is soon solved, , to my certain knowledge one native not long ago got from Napier at least £150 worth of spirits and unless these things can be stopped it is useless to blame the Publican. I have the honor to be Sir, Your obedt. Servt. John Rigby.