Taranaki January 13, 1855 My dear Sir, I was unable to write to you last week and have but little to write about by this day's post. Major Nugent left for Auckland overland last Tuesday and as far as I can judge was pleased with the Province and the attention shewn him - He is the bearer of many letters to the Governor, including one from Wiremu Kingi and Katatore, and has received the best information upon matters generally -his report will therefore be anxiously looked for and read with unusual interest. I am sorry to say that a feeling of insecurity is gaining ground here and that our numbers are likely to be diminished - several persons, all of whom were doing well, have already gone northward, and I much fear that another brush amongst the natives will be a severe blow to the progress of this Province. On my way to the Poutoko yesterday, with our Superintendent and Mr.W.King, to endeavour to make some final arrangement about the cattle running upon native lands - an everlasting source of complaint - I found Poharama busily engaged throwing up a pa close to his residence, assisted by Henere te Whare and his people, a circumstance that set me thinking as shewing the very close intimacy existing between them, which might probably be made use of to our advantage. A large pa has been erected at Huirangi since I was last there, capable of containing 3 or 400 hundred men -I was informed that its erection was a precautionary step against an expected visit from Taupo and Whanganui to avenge the deaths of the two men belonging to those tribes who fell at Mamaku when assisting Ihaia - Mr.Tamati Waka, the firebrand of the district, has again induced his too willing listeners, to place a stringent 'tapu' on the roads to Town to annoy W.Kingi and his people, a proceeding that I regret we are unable to check. W.K. was very attentive to the Major and even put him across the river in a smart canoe paddled by himself. His remarks were altogether different to those expressed on a previous occasion when the Superintendent was present. In place of repeating his intention to adopt a strict neutrality, he declared that if an European should be killed through the folly of natives dragging their quarrel into the European boundry, he would join the latter in driving the former away. He particularly asked me to visit him occasionally - The wounded men of Ihaia's party are doing remarkably well and Ani is said to be convalescent - what extraordinary people they are for recovery from wounds that appear to be quite beyond the reach of art - A party of Ngatiruanui natives is expected at the Poutoko this day - their object is said to be peaceable and to fetch some iron work for a mill - Te Ngahuru, I understand, will send his men to Town for the iron and so prevent an unpleasant meeting between the hostile tribes - I enclose copy deed of sale and native correspondence - Hoping you are well and your little boy Believe me Faithfully yours H.Halse