Letter from H.A. Wilson undated. My dear Son, Your old Mother could not allow this opportunity to pass without a line to acknowledge the receipt of your most welcome letter, and to express her thankfulness that her dear Grandson continues so well. May he ever continue so to do, is her sincere prayer. Don Pedro's letter will tell you all regarding the state of anxiety we have all been in for the past week. We look for you, as our best hope to settle the unfortunate dispute. The Governor will no doubt allow you to come at once. If we are left to the foolish interference of some of our wise heads, who hold a little brief authority, we shall, ere long, be in a mess. I have no patience with these gentry, who have only come to the Colony a short time ago, giving their opinions of what they can know nothing about; and what is worse, acting upon it, instead of taking the advice of those who have been in the Island for many years, and are well acquainted with native customs and manners. Witness Master Richmond's display of ignorance, the other day, Henry Halse taking a letter to Katatori, which must have done good. Time will show that your old Mother's of the New Plymouth Council, from first to last, will prove a right one, notwithstanding what her son may wish her to think. Now, don't scold; for I must hold by my opinion, until I clearly see that I am wrong. I, too, well know that you will equally feel with us the severe loss this settlement, and indeed the whole Colony has sustained by the death of our good and sincere friend, poor old Rawiri; and also his poor brother Paul. His only son has been placed, by the tribe, under the care of Mr. Turton, to be brought up and educated by him as their Chief. His poor father's "mere" has also been put into the same careful hands. What a blessing it has been for us that Turton was here. He has acted nobly in the cause. I enclose you a lock of poor Rawiri's hair. Turton cut it off, so I know that the act was all right. Mr. Wilson covered the coffin with his Scotch plaid, --- 42nd. one. It was returned to him by a woman, a near relation of Rawiri's, with a long speech, intimating that it was now become sacred, having covered the coffin of so dear a friend. I shall prepare a long letter to go by the steamer, as I have much to tell you. I feel so shaky just now, to write much. By the Cashmere, now in the Bay, I got a letter from my brother; matters now in such a train that I may venture to look for him and his family about Christmas, or in the beginning of the year. I wish you could get me a reading of "Montgomery Martin's History of New Zealand"; for I should very much like to read what he says of the ; and I promise to get it safely returned. Pat has been up for a few days, and is to come again at Christmas. He is quite well. If you send soldiers here, I shall do my best to get Don Pedro to be off to Wanganui. If they come we shall be sure of a similar upset to that of 1847. You come, and you will do more than even the 42nd, or any other Highland Regiment. affectionately yours, (Signed) H.A. Wilson.