[At top] 'Copy' Friend, Poharama, Your letter has come to me, and I say enough nonsense, useless and ignorant talk, has occurred. But where does such false news come from? Look, this is the situation we to look out for in the days ahead. You ask your children if they saw the person who tricked you into telling and to tell ... [illegible] me so we can know whether it was a Pakeha or Maori. Friend, soon our poles and our flags will be erected. Because that pole had long stood there it had aged and decayed, and as a result it fell down. And this is why we thought to construct some new poles, however, the principle is just the same, to have flags to protect us, and as a sign to people overseas that this land is occupied by Pakeha. One is a signal for ships; they are a sign of respect, of protection and a mark of prestige for us. Say to the people to stay away, to stop thinking that these are land-taking flags and about enslavement. They are not, they are flags to elevate us. Don't disbelieve what I say. That is all. From your good friend, from Halse 18 October 1851 Hone Ropiha has seen your statement and he said that you two are of one mind in regard to the custom of the Pakeha; and that it would not be right that a person's word should come along and cut off our arrangement, which is in accord with the law that is ordained by God, the Queen, the Governor and judges, and by you and I also. [Note following] 'Oct. 18th 1851. Copy of letter from H. Halse to Poharama' To Poharama Te Weti At Moturoa