Napier June 10th 1869 Dear Sir I have just returned from seeing the Natives and arranging about the flax - Fifteen boxes of the best flax roots in the province, some of it fetched for miles, will be ready in a few days The Tapoto or best kind is very scarce indeed and must be brought from Waimarama Arapaoanui and other places - But the flax shall all be of the best and well put up in the boxes - I should like to know to whose charge etc. I should send the boxes - I have written a letter to the Herald about flax - And Mr. Braithwaite I hear has gone up on the strength of it to Auckland to fetch a machine for dressing flax - others are going to do the same. You will have heard of this fearful news from Taupo. I enclose you an extra - H. R. Russell asked me to night if I would help him to get 40 or 50 Natives to go to Haroto as I suppose he could not get them to go. I said I should always be willing to do all I could to protect the province. How easy the Taupo country might have been settled, with a force or if people had gone the right way about it. You will have seen Ropata and and heard how disorganized every thing is at head quarters at Waikare etc. I send you a copy of a letter I got from Paora Hapi dated May 30 - I have one from Tukurehu chief of Tauranga Taupo - the Hauhau settlement to Pohipi and from Te Heuheu - on the same subject I will send them next mail - lest they should not reach you through bad weather. I showed them Mr. Russell on the evening of the 7th last Monday. I think Mr Russell and Wilson are put out about this last news - The latter has resigned his office and I believe Mr. Rhodes has accepted it - I don't see Ross gazetted yet. I have a letter from Mr.C.T. Backin Paymaster General about the last £500 Mr. Richmond sent me on account of East Coast surveys and request me as a Government officer etc. to account for any balance etc. I shall answer giving an account of what is now due and that I have no balance, on the other hand the Govt. owes me some £600 or more on that account, besides what is due on the confiscated block. I am not a Govt. officer. What do they mean by harassing me like this - I hope you will be able to make a change in some way in the ministry or I dont know what will become of this place. I remain Yours truly S. Locke