New Plymouth July 23, 1860 My Dear Sir, Mr. White has very suddenly taken it in his head, to wish to return to Auckland, and being a kind hearted good fellow, and an old servant of the Government, and a lover of his Ariki, who he knows is at head quarters, I do not like to oppose his request, but it has put me in a fix, and I positively dont know what I shall do, those things occurring suddenly at such a critical time as the present, makes it rather awkard as I have no authority to fill up vacancies. Good has thrown up because his pay as Ensign in the Militia was deducted from his pay as Interpreter. Stockman the Military refuse to countenance and the only assistance I have now got is Atkinson. Permit me to entreat you to send me authority to get assistance if its only clerical for I could then attend more to outdoor work myself. I am particularly anxious for the Friendly Natives, for there is a bad feeling existing towards them, and a desire to ill use them which is as much as I can do to suppress, and one mishap, or unwarrangable injury done to one of them would confirm them in the opinion so prevalent among the disaffected, viz. that the Government intend to exterminate them. Yours Truly, R. Parris.