Wellington 30th. March 1853. My dear McLean, As a special messenger is to start at daylight tomorrow morning I avail myself of the opportunity to send you a little of the news from the capital. And first to tell you of what you will feel most interested in, Panapa's trial terminated today, and he has been found guilty on the two counts, one of felony in stealing the guns, and for which his sentence is transportation for seven years secondly guilty of discharging a loaded gun with intent to murder, the sentence being transportation beyond the seas for fifteen years - and the sentence is to take effect from and after the date of the expiration of the first sentence. I saw Mr. Ross immediately after the trial, and though not so much agitated as he was on the former occasion, he is evidently much affected, and appears to be labouring under considerable mental excitement. Several persons from the Rangitikei district were present at the trial, who seem to apprehend that this proceeding will excite a great sensation among the natives in that district and probably lead to much trouble, in which the settlers in their immediate meighbourhood will participate. But of this you will be better able to judge than we can here. The rumours current in the town are much exaggerated, at least, so I suppose, from perusing your last letter to Domett. I hope that you will be able to report more favourably when next you write. Pauapa will be here for some weeks to come as at present their is no opportunity of forwarding him to Van Diemen's Land. He attempted to make rather a clever defence when after the verdict of the Jury was communicated to him, the judge enquired through Kemp whether he had anything to say why the sentence of the Court should not be passed on him. If you could only send us down the other scoundrels who were his accomplices with Stephen for their Judge, I have no doubt that they would ere long be on their way to join Pauapa. Sewell, and that clique, have taken a bold step they have applied for and obtained an injunction from the Supreme Court to restrain Bell from selling Land under the new Regulations. What the ultimate effects of this measure will be I cannot pretend to say, but it seems that there is a certain fatality which cuts short any attempt on the part of the Government to extricate the victims of the New Zealand Company from the mischlevous projects of that band of swindlers. Edward Gibbon Wakefield is to give his first lecture tonight, on the disadvantages attending cheap land, he will I hope find but few converts to his present faith. To give you an instance how utterly unscrupulous, nay worse, utterly devoid of anything like correct feelings that party are, Sewell, the very day of his landing had a private conversation with Bomett and Dan Wakefield - and last Saturday he went before the Judge and filed an affidavit of the substance (considerably distorted) of that conversation - this affidavit was read in open court by Evans as part of their case. Dan Wakefield was so indignant at this piece of Treachery that he, on meeting with Sewell in the street, attacked him, in Enderby's presence, in no very measured terms, and gave the High Churchman such a dressing down that he was fain to retire. This, was tolerably public as Enderby and several of the lawyers were there and heard all that passed. I enclose a letter from Mr. Ross which he is anxious to send by the present opportunity. Truly yours, Edward W. Blackman.