Turanga-nui 7th. May, 1866 My dear Sir, I write you in a great hurry to tell you that I am here with some of my men, having come overland from the Wairoa. Ipropose returning with them on Wednesday next. We had a very hard time of it, two days without food, and were obliged at last to kill and eat a foal. The friendly natives at the Wairoa would not accompany us after proposing and volunteering to do so, so I determined to go without them. We had no one with us who knew the road so our progress was slower than it would have been otherwise. The men behaved admirably but are of course done up as I am myself, so please excuse my not sending you an official, which I will do by the "Tawera". In native words you will of course have heard I think the war may at last be considered at any rate as far as the Hau Hau are concerned. Morgan and some men I expect here tomorrow, they were at Tolaga Bay yesterday. If I can get him to attack "Maunga powhatu" with me, I will go up there. Kereopa and Patara are both there, but if not I will send him back home, and start as I said before on Wednesday myself by the coast road so I will then know both tracks. "Entre nous" Toogood has been here doing a good deal of mischief I will write you further about it. I trust you will approve of my doings and believe me Yours ever sincerely, James Fraser. P. S. I saw no Hau-Hau nor any tracks on my march.