Ohinemuri, June 23rd. 1870. Dear Sir, I have been requested by the friendly natives in this district to couple my request with theirs for a supply of arms for self defence. I have been enformed on good authority that Te Hira has sent for the Ngatiraukawa and Waikatos to assist him to destroy the friendly natives in this district, it is certainly our duty to assist our allies when they are threatened by rebbels. I do not think you could do any harm in sending 25 stand of arms rifels and double barrel guns in a box to my care not to be opened or mentioned to anyone till really or seriously required and then only kept till the danger is all over when I would see that they were all returned to your care. Word has come down that some of the Ngatiraukawa have consented to join Te Hira's forces and Mr. Nicholls who has just returned from Ohineroa and Te Aroha says they, Te Hira and his party, mean to make an attack on some one shortly, report says on the Ngatikaes and Whakatowhas and others, say on the Europeans. Would you kindly send poor old Taraia some of his pension he is very badly off just now and it is too bad to keep the old fellow out of his money after it has been promised to him repeatedly. You will oblige me by letting me know what to do in the matter of the arms and Taraia'a pension, and oblige, dear Sir, Faithfully yours, John W. Thorp.