Turanga Wharaurangi 12th Octr. 1866 Donald McLean Esq. Napier. Dear Sir, I am sorry to say that from injuries sustained to my hand and received from that treacherous villian "Reneta Tuparu" I shall be disabled for life or at all events for a long period of time from doing any manual labour - It happened at the time the Hau Hau natives were sent away to the Chatham Islands. Tuparu's name was put down to be sent off by the "St Kilda" but some undue influence was exercised to prevent it - This agitator of Hau Hauism together with "Anaru Matete" the two first and principal causes of Hau hauism, were the ones who sought the destruction of the europeans, and the former finding he could not effect his purpose in that manner, he apparently took his revenge upon me from whom he had received many acts of kindness - When he received "credit" from me for goods which I always gave him for peace sake he invariably paid in some trifling produce that no other person would buy, such as rotten or inferior apples, at the same time intimating, if I did not them, I would get nothing else - A few days before he expected to be sent away he called at my house, and after a few remarks he seized one of my hands and got one of my fingers into his mouth and kept it there with all the tenacity of a bull dog - Of course I became exhausted with pain and loss of blood - I was laid up for three months utterly useless for any work and of course under medical treatment suffering the most intense pain. The Drs. were afraid at one time I should lose my hand by amputation I am still unable to get my living by manual labour, notwithstanding it is healing, and this to me is of serious consequence for, I have always got my living by working for others and trading a little, the latter seldom to be considered as of any moment - "Toma Hana" Rautapu came to my place about three weeks ago, bringing me a small inferior horse in payment for my hand, I suppose in Town it would realise 30 shillings here I would not take it for a gift added to which I should have to pay 10/- a year for the grass the animal eat, so that taking into consideration all things, it was merely adding insult to injury. I wonder what my Dr. would have said had I tendered the same horse for payment for his account! - I hope Sir, You will take my caseinto your consideration for I have not like many of the settlers here been enabled to accumulate wealth and I have never tampered with the natives for land "not even an acre or two for a homestead, but nearly every one else has done so. I am therefore the less able to withstand such attacks - This "Reneta Tuparu" endeavoured previous to the europeans returning to their homes to aid in setting fire to all the Homesteads - but he was overuled - There are a few more of notorious thieves and Hau Haus living close to me all related to Tuparu - With this exception nearly all the other bad characters from this neighbourhood have gone to Ware Kauri much to the satisfaction of the settlers generally. I must not forget to mention that upon several occasions my House has been broken and goods etc. taken from me which I could ill afford and those acts were always committed with all the art of a professional burglar - I have always endeavoured to impress upon the minds of any sensible native that the hau hau's were in error, and that they will ultimately find the europeans are only wishing to put them on the right path, and many seem to agree, but of course I am likewise fully aware and know one can be better informed on that point than a "small trader" that maori's generally speaking are dissemblers, and that is the reasons that I have found in my experience that some of the old missionaries really did not know the real character of Maoris - - There has lately been a few false alarms of Hau Hau invasion here, but the fact is, they know full well if they come here before there is any food ripe it would be a sorry day for them - We are trying to get up a volunteer cavalry corps for the protection of this district which I in my crippled state intend to Join - I received no remuneration for my services during the war although I did my duty as well as the rest - All the settlers with some two exceptions are anxious to hear a favourable account of your good officesfor them in the Assembly - Any other news concerning matters here will no doubt be conveyed to you by abler pens than mine - Pray excuse this lengthy epistle on matters most appertaining to myself. I am dear Sir Yo's mo.respectfully J.Hervey To Donald McLean Esq. Napier