Private. Wellington 25 Apl. 65 My dear MacLean, I hoped to have seen you tomorrow but from pressure of business cannot go by the Alfred - so I must take the other coast for it. I am looking eagerly for your news; I hope the Wairoans understand well that if not, affairs will grow serious or rather more serious than ever. Additional troops are not to be expected. Indeed the more sub-fractional they are the better. The General has withdrawn from his picnic excursion just when he was within 3 days of New Plymouth. I expect to be at Auckland by the 5th and to stay there a week. I was indebted to the Waka Maori for an account of the Govr's interview with the Natives at Napier - the new Actg.C.C. not having reported it. I have no unusually bad news from any quarter. Wi Tamihana writes laughably to Col. Green threatening him with Fitzgerald and Parliament! Yours truly, W. Mantell.