Wanganui 25th Novr. 1846 My Dear Sir I take the opportunity of one of people returning to Taranaki to send you a few Scotch newspapers and at the same time to let you know what we are about here. I suppose you are aware that Mamuca returned to this place after he and Rangaietta had been driven from the Hut, he remaind quite for some time, but we had rumours of a body of his friends being on the way to join him here and march down the coast to remove the man, accordingly a force of about 120 came to this place about ten days ago well armed they conducted themselves on the whole pretty well and declared that they did not intend to molest the whites, E Mawa and a number of the Putica natives came over soon after their arrival and a great number of speaches were made on both sides, the Putica people declaring that the first outrage committed against the whites would be the signal for them (the Putica natives) to attack Tanana and we have no reason to doubt them as to sincerity, indeed they behaved nobly and we owe our safety entirely to the support they afforded us from 80 to 100 came over every night about dusk with their arms and amunition and took up their quarters in the different houses I had from six to eight of them in my kitchen and I assure you I did not feel myself the less secure for their presence from some circumstances that came to our knowlege I have no doubt they intended to plunder us had it not been for the support given us by our friends on the opposite side of the water and fifty stand of arms with amunition in proportion which we had from Wellington and which were served out to the people here, who to do them justice did not seem so much alarmed as on former occasions. After remaining here about a week they returned up the river after some violent quarreling among themselves - We are all anxiously looking out for your coming here to settle this everlasting land question, the Governor told me when in Wellington that he would send the brig for you in three months at farthrest but alas it is now upwards of six since that - The road between this and Port Nicholson is stopped by that rascal Rangaietta he threatened to hang Mr. Taylor if he could get hold of him when he went a few weeks ago to Otaki in revenge for the man that was hung at Porirua in consequence of this we are unable to get a horse to service some mares here, would it be giving you too much trouble to enquire if any one possessed of an entire horse would be willing to send him here, and at what charge. I have been out today on the sand hills practising our people in ball firing, the consequence of which is that I am scarcely able to see from the sand having got into my eyes. Mrs. C. and John Cameron join me in kind remembrances and believe me ever My Dear Sir Yours most sincerely W. Campbell Donald McLean Esq.