Napier July 20 1868. Sir, I have the honor to report -- The next day after Your Honors departure -- a letter directed to His Honor the Superintendent arrived express by Mr. D. Deighton from Mr. S. Deighton. Mr. Locke or Mr. Kinross brought it into my office -- having 'ascertained' that the particulars of the Despatch was known, I opened it -- my first intention was to Telegraph all to your Honor so that you might receive it on your arrival and lay it yourself before the Ministers -- but from all information I could get I found you would not arrive before 3½ oclook or thereabouts -- and finding that if I did not send word to Mr. Stafford that others would I transmitted (a copy in full as recd. by Your Honor) all to Mr. Stafford with a Telegram from Col. Whitmore -- having done so I sent the originals to Mr. Rhodes. Any number of Natives were willing to go but Col. Whitmore only took 42. I send you a H.B. Herald with all news. The natives here seem very quiet. Dr. Ormond goes to Poverty Bay overland. All the stir in Napier is about the war all very anxious to know full particulars -- and every one expecting that Your Honor will have to come back to do as you did before. Very few seem to have any faith in Col. Whitmore -- Your Honor may depend that you will obtain the very first information of anything going on. It was the time I recd. Your Honors first Telegram I remained in Town all thro'. I am afraid that my usual reports to Your Honor will seem very unsatisfactory from your receiving all news before by Telegram. I have the hr. to be, Sir Yr. obt. Svt. Geo. Thos. Fannin. His Honor The Superintendent Napier.