Tauranga March 13th 1861 My dear Sir, The Tauranga natives are quiet, but it is a quietness I do not exactly understand - Whether it arises from the hopelessness of the Taranaki war, and disappointed national ambition or from a real desire to remain aloof from the present quarrel I cannot say. I do not hear any extravagant rumours of Maori success at Taranaki now Natives here who are in communication with some of the Taranaki people acknowledge that they ''hina'' some of their losses I believe them to have been heavy I hear sometimes ''Ngarangatira o Waikato ka poto nei i te pakeha''. The Waikato natives are in almost daily communication with Tauranga. Parties of three four and five are constantly coming over - I believe that the ''Kereti'' has been the greatest attraction. The European traders tell me the great cry is powder and gun caps. The Tauranga natives are greatly disappointed with the result of the ''Keretis expedition to Auckland they blame every one but the right. They believe that some one in Tauranga has revealed the whole scheme