Kawhia August 17/46 My Dear Sir, Yours of 17th July I duly received and thank you for your kind remembrance. I do not and shall not forget you or my other friends at Taranaki. I would have accompanied Te Roto ma but considered that their visit was of a perfectly peaceful character and my services would not be needed. You lately sent a Messenger to Auckland I understand he had strict orders not to call for my letters - he did not, either going or returning - of course my letters were left (if I had any to send) to be sent as I might best devise how!!! And this is the way you Taranaki folks reward the past services of your old pononga. I have been a regular taurekareka for the whole o' ye and this is the way ye pay me off. There's your fine Post Office at that fine town o' yours - has been some £3 or £4 in my debt for the last 12 months for money actually paid out of my own pocket - to say nothing of gratuitous services. Now as you are a Government Officer allow me to suggest that for the honour of your society you ought to help a poor member who is thus unable to pay its just and lawful debts. Dont say the Post Office does not belong to Government - it does, if not to this Government, at least to the Home Government and you know its all one Society - and so if this poor member (the New Plymouth Post Office) cant pay its own debts - why then, you as a regular initiated member of the honourable conclave must either help it out of its distress or if you cant - then just give notice for a public collection or for a general subscription of all the Honourable members of the Honourable Community of Government officials in Town and Country. Dont think I 'm joking - for my money I must have and if I cant get it by good words and fair means why then I must have recourse to the terrors of . I wish you success in your great undertaking at Wanganui and also in your soldier-like office. Although your new appointment savours of that character I trust you will never cease to act as you have heretofore done so successfully as a peace-maker between the two races. We began to ''shew fight'' to the natives sadly too soon - if we cant rule them without fighting them we shall make poor out. Hoping to hear from you frequently I remain Dr. Sir, Yours truly, J. Whiteley Mr. McLean