Te Teko April 14th 1870 Dear Sir I have just returned from looking up the Ruatoki country and returned by Whakatane. Being quite run out of rations and having made arrangements to meet Mair with food at Galatea on the 17 I had to purchase Biscuit and sugar from the Storekeepers at Whakatane and Matata at £2 per hundred for biscuits it is high but it was necessary the provisions you said would be sent down have not yet arrived -- I leave for Ft. Galatea tomorrow morning and meet Mair there on the 17th. We shall go to Ahikereru if Major Roberts is agreeable to the arrangement we meet him at Te Arawhata -- Will you write to let me know when the natives who were at Taupo are to get their pay -- Yours truly George Freece I should like to have authority to place six men on mounted pay to scout places when I do not care for taking the whole force, I need them while on expeditions it is very necessary. G.P.