Opotiki June 14th 1870 Dear Colonel, We shall have been a fortnight without a mail next Thursday owing to the rivers being impassable so should there have been any letters you are expecting answers to, you know the reason why they have not been We have had dreadful weather, in fact only 3 days without rain out of the last 14, I fancy that is the reason we hear nothing about the Hauhaus coming in as they could not travel in those gorges this weather. Very dull place this especially when one cannot get about in the district. The ''Woodstock'' arrived 2 days ago from Auckland, but no news. Ranaphia a Whaka tohere chief, came to me yesterday after a man of his hapu named Hakaraia who is in the bush afraid to come in as some case might be trumped up against him by the other hapus through jealousy, and wanted a letter written to this man which I did, saying, that should there be nothing against him except legitimate fighting, to come in and leave himself to our tender mercies. No news from any quarter - Hoping you are all well Believe me Yours sincerely Fred Swindley P. S. I forward a letter from Rushton applying for Ensy. in Mil.