New Plymouth 6th. Febr. 1861. My dear Sir, Some time since I did myself the pleasure of writing you a few lines, but not hearing from you fancy it may have miscarried, however, I should have written again, but hoping something ere this would have been done down South, I delayed writing from time to time. The Natives from the South are now occupying the ground from Papatinawa (the hole in the rock about 2 miles south of the Sugar-loaves) across Waireka hill to Tapui waiwai about 2 miles in extent, they have 7 or 8 Pas built and a great number of rifle-pits, as far as I can learn there are about400 Ngatiruanuis, 200 Taranakis, very few of the Ngarauru, and a sprinkling of the turbulent spirits from Wanganui, at present Epiha and Tupihana, with about 200 Waikatos are there (Epiha is going back to Waitara in a day or two I believe with a present of kai from Taranaki to Waikatoat Waitara.) The Waikatos occupy one of the pas on Waireka hill. It appears to me that Epiha's trip down South some time since was for the purpose of reconciling the differences between Ngatiruanui and Taranaki, and induce them to come up again to Waireka. I had heard some time ago that if Waikato got beaten at Waitata they would go south, form a a junction with the Southern tribes, and try their fortune down there. The Ngatiruanui have done more mischief to this settlement than all the other tribes put together they have been foremost in all the burnings, and stealing cattle and horses, etc. Last Saturday a drove of cattle and horses were sent south and this morning another drove was sent down, even now whilst I am weiting a party of Natives are driving a herd of cattle within 2 2/1 miles of Town. Mr. Kellar's and Curtis's houses were burnt last night, and now the only house left standing in Omata district south of the stockade is Goods, but that is close to. Since tfee Niger's boat expedition the Natives have made rifle-pits at all the available landing places between Orata and Hauranga, and watch parties are posted there every night. The Friendly Natives have been constantly employed for some time past in cutting supple jacks, which are carted into Town, then shipped on board of the little steamer for Waitara, it is astonishing the number that have been worked up into gabions. They have also been the means of saving a very great many cattle belonging to the settlers, take it altogether, they have behaved remarkably well, and very many of them just as trustworthy as many of our own countrymen. In fact I don't know what we should have done without them on several oacasions. I think the Waikatos in taking up Wi Kingi's cause at Waitara have caught a tartar. They fancied they were going to drive us into the sea, and have it all their own way. Matarikoriko, Mahoetahi, and the affair of the Redoubt the other day have dispelled the illusion, and I should they are heartily sick of ever having anything to do with it. However I look upon them in a very different light to what I do upon the Southern Tribes. You know what an obstinate pigheaded personage Wi Kingi is, so I do not think it likely he will listen to reason yet if the Waikatos should go back to their own country and leave him to his own resources he will be in a desperate state, a great part of his crops are destroyed, and the most of the open country is in our possession, the only thing he can do is to fall back on Ngatimaru. I think he will not be able to induce the Southern Tribes to assist him at Waitara, there they would get nothing but hard knocks and no plunder, and that would not suit their disposition, as for the Ngatiruanui I look upon them as one of the worst tribes in New Zealand, they fancy we shall not reach them in their country, I hope they will be mistaken. I send you a tracing as far as the Survey goes at Waitara whan complete I will get it from my brother and send it to you. Trusting that you are now quite recovered from your late illness. I remain, My dear Sir, Yours very truly, W. Carrington. P. S. Excuse this scrawl as I have been writing against time.