New Plymouth Jany. 29/61. My dear Sir, I have just closed my official report of this day, which I was most anxious to send you by the first mail for Auckland, I have applied to the Postmaster to know if there was mail for Auckland, in consequence of a report that the ''Niger'' was likely to go. The reply on both occasions was ''I have had no notice''. I am informed that the ''Niger''is off with a mail. I was anxious to send you a full report of the latest information, but had I received 5 minutes notice, I could have closed my report and posted it. I have now an office inside the lines, not two minutes walk from the Post Office, may I therefore repeat my request, . I return herewith your letter to Father Garavel, who has returned to Waikato overland, having been refused a Passage in one of H.M. ''Men of War'' to Auckland. It appears that the General was offended with him for going among the rebels, before he came to him, in which he might have been wrong, but I exceedingly regret that he should have been so sharply dealt with as he appears to have been. He told me he was ordered out of the Camp by the Brigade Major acting upon orders received from the General. He afterwards wrote the Commodore Seymour asking for a Passage to Auckd. in one of H.M. Ships and was refused. The old Gentleman was exceedingly hurt. I am My Dear Sir Yours Truly, R. Parris.