Orakeikorako Taupo Sunday evening 28 Mch. 1869 My dear Sir, I this day recd. your official letter also your private one asking me to write frequently. You say that arrangts. have been made to keep up constant communication with this place, in this case you may depend on my keeping you fully acquainted with all that passes here. The want of messengers has kept me from writing so frequently as I otherwise would, and I have no authority to employ men to carry letters. Several thus I have sent I have had to pay for the carriage part of the way myself. I have been away from Taupo for the last week and am now but just arrived. After visiting the natives out here I shall ride on to Tapueharuru to attend a meeting - as I shall have not much time there I write this now. From Tapueharuru I shall send you an official report which you will receive at the same time as this. The day after Mr. Bold left Oruanui the L. Court broke up and I rode to Tauranga - arrd. there in a day and a half & back again to Tarawera lake. There I heard that Kooti was at Motumako a village on Rangitaiki river abt. 4 hours ride from my whare, so I took Keepa, Rewi and 100 of the Tahourangi and Ngatiwaakaue I was there on my arrival I found Kooti was at Anikereru 15 miles off. I stayed at Motumako a day (last Wednesday) in the evening of that day three men came in from Kooti's camp they had been taken prisoners by him at different times. They informed me that Kooti had only 100 men with him then at Ahikereru 200 of his men with the women and children having gone to Ruatahuna. Kooti had no idea that there was any one at Motumako except abt. a dozen of the Ngatimanawa so now would have been the time to have made a night march and attacked him (I had 130 men by this time - however my natives did not seem to see it in the same lightand although they said that they would go still they persisted in saying that it would be of no use and it certainly would not if we had camped as they wished 4 or 5 miles off Kooti's position and waited for daylight. Under these circumstances on the following morning I returned to Tarawera lake - and came on here and as I felt that I ought not to leave the district any longer I feel certain that if I had had the old C.W.F. I could have given a good account of the enemy but the friendlies seem afraid of him and the belief that he is an atua seems to be gaining ground daily. The men I had came in from Kooti tell me this Poihipi Tukairangi has written a letter to Kooti saying that the reason that he does not join him now is that he is waiting to get as much ammunition from Govt. as he can. You will see that I have reported this in my official letter, as I thought it better to let you know all - for my part I do not believe it as I can not see any reason for Poihipi doing so. He would have nothing to gain by such a course. It is probable that Poihipi may have written a letter to Kooti in answer to some threat. I shall not of course mention what I have heard to the Taupo natives, but I shall keep a sharper look out than ever. I shall now leave the native subject and finish that after I have heard the news at Tapuehararu. And now I will say a few words on myself. My position up here is in no way defined - in a letter of instruction from Mr. Richmond. I was informed that I was to communicate with you with the C. Comr. Tauranga, and direct with the native office. Now I submit that there is such a thing as having too many masters - you know very well that I should much prefer being entirely under you - another thing that I complain of is that I have no authority which puts me in a false position with the natives. For this work Mr. Richmond informedme that I was to receive £150 a yearabt. Sergts pay in the Armed Consty. without clothing. To do my work properly I ride abt. a great deal and actually expend more than my pay in horse flesh. This is only an introduction to what I am going to tell you namely: that I have written to Mr. Richmond telling him that I cannot stay any longer on the present pay and position. Taylor and I have decided to give up the run here and I am onlywaiting for Mr. Richmond's answer when if I do not receive a permanent appointment I leave Taupo and try something else. I think that my case is rather hard as I have been working and keeping the natives as much together as possible as I certainly understood that I was to have an appointment.