Auckland July 7th. 1870. My dear Mr. McLean, I have my little to communicate by this mail. As I anticipated I do think we shall have much more of the reported threatened attack on Raglan. The most was made of it. I wrote to Heteraka Nero cautioning him against taking any steps that might be construed into preparation for hostilities - or even use any language to irritate the opposite party. I hear from the natives that Hetaraka is not always to be taken as an authority. The Waihi and Ohinemuri natives are in a state of alarm and backed up by Mr. Thorpe (who is leaving no stone unturned) are trying to obtain arms from the Government, but they cannot have them - I know quite well that it would work mischief. Paora Toki and Tahau are at Ohinemuri - they are quiet. Tana either has no control over them or he has thrown them overboard. Bush has gone to Ohineroa to see the Ngatihaua. I feel rather anxious to know what is moving amongst them. Everything is perfectly quiet as far as I can make out at Waikato -nbut let them be never so quiet one likes to know what is going on. Speaking of Mr. Thorpe and his anxiety to arm the Ngatio I send you a note I have just received from him. I rendered Bay of Plenty accounts into Paymaster's office yesterday. And will send in an official Report giving an abstract of the Expenditure under different heads. I want £4,000 more - I have not paid the Ngatignakehi and Ngaitai and have only paid Henare pukaetue some and Kepa's up to the end of December. I am thoroughly sick of the whole thing and shall be only too glad to be quit of the thing. It makes me very unhappy altogether, I have the natives on one side of me and the Government on the other. On looking over the accounts if you should chance to see them you will see that with the exception of Pokehe's people none have been paid beyond the end of February and then every opportunity has been watched to clip and cut. Where very loose arrangements have been made the office of Paymaster is a very thankless one. Faithfully yours, Henry T. Clarke.