Raglan April 11th 1876 My dear Sir, I reached here on Saturday night, having left Te Harepapa the day before. Taua assures me that neither he nor his people will support the retention of Winiata, as they do not look upon his crime as committed in obedience to Rex's orders. Kati te Hoko - reti - ruri - rori etc. and that they have determined upon amongst themselves not to make Winiata heitake he ono ratou - Kaori matou e pai kia he matou ki runga ki tona mahi. My letter to you from Cambridge was hastily written you will therefore excuse me for alluding again to the matter re Davis. I understood from Davis that he meant to oppose present Government as much as he could because he considered they thought Mr. Mackay had treated him and his people unfairly re the Whangamata Block. He told me that Rex was anxious to meet the Governor & yourself - the delay was yours - that Waikato to Mangotawhia was over - that was all talk. It appeared to me that the idea now is an independant state with Tawhiao as Ruler. I said to Davis do you expect anyone can make any settlement as long as Winiata class are protected - he replied no - but that is clear on the day of arrangement between Governor & Rex that will be settled - he would not say how. He told me that Rex had not invited Sir G. Grey but means would presently be taken to bring about a meeting between him & Rex - I presume from way he spoke that he and his uncle are the medium. Mr. Davis pretends to know your policy which he says he has acquired from the officials. I had to tell him that I did not think they knew anything about your ideas, and that I knew you well enough to know that you did not take every R.M. etc. into your confidence, and that no one but yourself knew what your intentions were. Since my absence a great deal has been made out of the bringing of the Rakau o te Mate of Rex's daughter to Raglan. Hakopa and other natives want to make it out a declaration of war - granted it formerly generally meant so, but then the persons conveying it, if they met the hoa riri killed at once. This was not so, for I was passed by these Kai hari's at Torea they knowing before they reached there that I was there. Then again my being allowed to Hikurangi is ample proof that such was not the object. In fact Tapihana being mixed up is sufficient guarantee of the contrary. I shall enter more fully into this in my official report. I have to see Tapihana at his own kainga a promise made to him when I saw him at Kauri after his return from conveying this Rakau. He then told me not to allow a very long time to elapse before visiting them that I was to do so frequently. I saw my family - one of my children was very ill, and number four put in an appearance while I was there which compelled me to remain two days longer than asked for. I intend to avail myself of the months leave which you gave me at the end of this month when I mean to fetch my family home - unless some unexpected event occurs to prevent my going. Hoping you are well I remain My dear Sir Yours very faithfully R.J. BUSH Hon. Sir D. McLean K.C.M.G. Wellington P.S. I intended to have slept at Hikurangi but as Purukutu, Paora Tuhua, Te Tumu, and a party were in the Whare Karakia instead of at their own Kainga, I deemed it advisable not to remain there, lest I should see them & have to shake hands with them - a matter which I would not have performed. They wisely kept inside and we saw nothing of them. I hear Purukutu does not want to see a Pakeha again because he regrets his act. R.J.B.