Oropaoanui Aug. 11 1868 My dear Mr. McLean Yesterday we heard at Napier of a report from Taupo that the Hauhaus have given notice to all the people in charge of sheep stations to clear out. Truly our perplexities are growing thick upon us. This news has led me to think of other matters, and especially of our need of all the support we can get from the friendly natives. But I can hardly see what right we have to --- expect much from them. Look at Waiapu. Morgan has done good service but how has he been requited? After fighting was over there, both he and Hotene were loud in the expression of their opinion that the Waiapu Hauhaus ought to lose their land. In the course of time Captain Biggs goes there as the Government agent, but he did not do what common sense would have suggested, namely, take the friendly chiefs into his counsels, and acting upon their advice consider what it was best to do, but exercising his own judgment he fixes upon a boundary line, and says, "I demand for the Government from this point to that"; --- the said block of land including a principal portion of the land of the friendlies. This of course has produced a very strong feeling, and the natives naturally exclaim, why should we, who have done our best to uphold the Government, have our lands taken from us? I have by me a native Waiata, full of sarcasm, which was written on the occasion, the burden of which is, that Captain Biggs came to Waiapu under pretence of punishing the Hauhaus, but in reality to seize the lands of the friends of the Government; and thus the Government is sacrificed by the caprice of one of its agents. You have heard doubts expressed as to whether Morgan can be depended upon. What I mention is the simple cause. His mind is soured in consequence of these injudicious proceedings. I am told that Captain Biggs consequently modified his demands somewhat; but if enquiry is made you will find that there is a larger portion of land claimed by him, belonging to the friendlies than to the Hauhaus. You will recollect that the same principle was acted upon in regard to Makauri and Makaraka. When the proposal was first made to confiscate land, it was thought that this would afford an easy means of paying off the large debt which had been incurred; but not only has that not been done, but it is pretty certain that a still larger amount of loan would not place us in peaceful possession of the confiscated land. It becomes then a serious question whether it would not be more politic to abandon the confiscation altogether. But I leave this for the consideration of those whose proper business it is. Believe me to remain Most faithfully yours William Waiapu