Wellington 28th. May 1860. My dear Sir, I have this afternoon returned from Wairarapa after delivering letters of invite to Auckland, I thought at one time that I should not have been able to get one to accept, but Ngatuere's prompt acceptation and a little persuasion has decided them all to go. Manihera at the last moment decided to go thro jealousy of the others. I think it is a pity that the invitations in the Wairarpa were confined to such a few. I have written an official requesting that Hiko, and Raniera of Wairarapa, Nopera of Porirua, and Takerei, one of the clearest headed men he invited if not too late. I wrote some time back to request that Mr. Stewart's services may be dispensed with so far as this district is confined. I trust that no unnecessary delay take place in removing him to where his services are required. I would have set him about the Wairarapa Map for His Ex. but he is such a very indifferent Draughtsman, besides in making it local knowledge is indispensable, I am anxious that the Plan should be so far as is possible a general and as nearly as may be a correct one. Fraser will begin upon it tomorrow with me and making use of the disjointed materials that we have as far as possible, proceed by a Trig survey to connect the Coast East. The Natives had a large meeting at the Waitapu, Tuhitarata, at which Tamehana te Rauparaha was present and tho the Natives made a good deal of fun of what he said, still he had caused a number of the wavering to come round to the Govt. side, the majority of the old and leading in fact nearly the whole are anxious for peave and money and not for fighting. Manihera is very bumptious, the fact is his debts and difficulties make him desperate, he had not untill the last moment any intention of going to Auckland, even now, I think it is very doubtful. I think the tampering system carried on here by His Honor and others among the Natives is doing a deal of injury to European interests, the Natives think that His Honor is making advances because the Europeans are afraid of them, the report that arrived here some time ago that His Ex. had made peace with the Natives caused considerable excitement among the Europeans. I believe had it been true that they would soon have brought on another war. On another subject I would address you more privately, leaving it to you to cause some more effective steps to be taken. I allude to the sale of ammunition and arms, the former Iknow is still sold in the Wairarapa and only a short time ago a double barrelled Gun was sold by a European to a Native for £22. I believe that many sales are taking place, but it is quite impossible to convict parties, I believe in a general registry of arms, with a heavy penalty if a false return is made to be produced at any time when called for it is better late than never, but the sale of arms will not cease until some more effective step for its prevention takes place. You will also oblige me by writing to old Morrison and Gillies to repay the Money to me borrowed by them of you as the Natives to whom it belongs are very urgent for its immediate return. I have been dunning old Morrison for the last twelve months in vain you will therefore oblige me by writing as urgent a letter as possible so as to insure the repayment of the Loans both to him and to Gillies. There is still considerable discontent about the 5 percent not being forthcoming, the Natives begin to believe in the truth of the report of the whole of the 5 per cents having been handed over to the Bishop for the School house at Papawai. I am Dear Sir, Very truly yours Will N. Searancke.