Woodlands May 24th /63 My dear McLean, The news from Taranaki is indeed horrible, though it is only what we have all been looking for by every mail - It seems inconceivable how they could have sent such weak escorts through a country infested by that scoundrel Kingi and the ruffianly Patukai - I send you an official report herewith, which as far as I can judge, is the true state of the natives here - the removal of the Waitara question from the war, has taken away the only point on which they ever pretended to sympathise with the Taranaki Natives. I have communicated with Ormond since I received your letter, and find a perfect unanimity of opinion between himself and me - Locke thinks the same - and a few others whose opinions are of minor importance. You see what I have said about the Militia, I should be very strongly opposed to calling it out just now - it would set the natives wondering what we were up to, and might give rise to mischier - Ormond agrees with me here too - Altho' he has once in favor of the Militia which I never was - I enclose a note from him - I go to Porangahau on the 1st of June, and thence to Sutherland's this will give me an opportunity of sounding the Coast Natives; I expect to meet Wardell at Castle Point, and it might be as well to run through Wairarapa with him returning by the Coast. I should thus be able to give you news of the whole tribe - I will get two of the magistrates to do my work while I am away, which wont be above a fortnight or three weeks. There are a few Waikato and Ngatipehi people knocking about here - but they are principally friends and connections of returned slaves, and are going back shortly - I do not think they are up to any mischief, nor would they succeed if they were - however I shall keep an eye on these gentry and let you know if I hear anything. Faithfully yours G. S. Cooper P. S. I am neither as blind as Bell or a Bat, but am so ill that I can't sit up to the table to write, so have had to employ an amanuensis. The official report nearly brought my few remaining hairs in sorrow to the grave.