Manga Nui Novr.30th 1866 Dear Sir, Hearing that you wish to receive an authenticated report of the oilsprings in this district, I send you an account of a trip that I made up the Waipaoa river - On tuesday last the 27th inst. hearing that there were some Hauhaus at the junction of the Waipaoa and Mangatu rivers (the place where Sergt. Walsh was attacked) I took Paora Parau and some natives and went there - the distance being about thirty miles from here - we camped the night at this place - on the following morning after searching the place thoroughly and finding nothing but some old tracks - I determined to look for the reported oilsprings, as one of the natives I had with me, told me that he had been to them some years before - we went up a small stream that runs into the Waipaoa just below its junction with the Mangatu - after following the windings of the stream in a northeasterly direction about eight miles we struck off easterly into the hills and after travelling two miles further came upon the springs - I followed them up for about half a mile and saw some seven or eight from which there was gas, oil and water coming out - The greater part of the oil on coming to the surface soaks into the ground and the whole valley in which these springs are is saturated with it - I should also mention that these springs are not only confined to the valley but are spotted about to some distance on either side of it - I send by the captain of the vessel a sample of the oil I got - Hoping that this report may be of interest to you I remain, Yours obediently Jno. St. George. We were all very glad to hear that you beat Mr. Collenso by such great odds. J.St.G.