Poverty Bay 2 Jany. 1867 Dear Mr. McLean I should have written to you before telling you what I have done in raising the native force from amongst the Ngatiporous and Henere Potaes people but I expected the Sturt in every day for the last fortnight and hoped to see you in Napier. None of the Natives up the Coast will join the 1/- per diem with rations not being sufficient to induce them to leave their cultivations. I have now twelve men including Paora Parau and I do not think it advisable to raise any more from amongst these people I have written to the Defence Office to tell them what I have done and to request that some Europeans may be spared from Tauranga or Opotiki. I hope you have written to the Government asking them to send some men for I think it is very unwise just as the land question is to be gone into to leave me without a "back". You mentioned the other day in Napier that it would be a good thing to make me an R.M. whilst here. Since I have come back I see the necessity for doing no more than ever. Houses have been broken into by the Maories goods taken from one £20 from another and last night £80 from Sadler Blairs store besides no end of a lot of saddles and things of smaller value all this going on under my eyes and I have no power to act in the capacity of Magistrate. When Campbell comes down these fellows will go up the coast and remain till he is gone. Though a magistrate has been appointed for this District he is unable to afford any protection to property whatever I have not heard a word from the government since I saw you about surveys or other matters I hear Whitaker is coming down this month with I presume his creature to look after the oil springs I should not be surprised if he appeared in the Sturt. I have set the Maoris to work to divide the land giving me the names of all persons having claims within certain boundaries I am sure the natives will abide by almost any division of land we choose to make. Our races went off very well. Luckily it was a glorious day lots of fighting between Europeans and Maoris but nothing serious more ill feeling being displayed on the European side than on the Maori. Wishing you the compliments of the season Believe me Yours very truly Reginald Newton Biggs.