Wairoa August 16th. 1865. Sir I have to report for your Honor is information that I Received intelligence this day (16th.) that a Hau Hau Maori had been shot by a European in this river at a place called the Turiroa, I proceeded at once accompanied by Cornet Pearce Military settlers to Ropus pa, and there ascertained that a Maori (Hau Hau) had been slightly wounded by a rifle bullet fired from the opposite of the river; the shot appears to have been fired by a halfcaste lad at a mark in the river, but the ball richohetting hit the natives passing on the bank of the river opposite to the firer. The natives are a little excited in the matter and were for taking summary payment, but I succeeded in persuading them to let the case be investigated in a legal form by a Resident Magistrate; they therefore request that your Honor will at once send a Magistrate for that purpose. I might add in conclusion that had it not been for the prompt manner in which Kopu acted in this matter there is little doubt that it would have been much more serious than it has turned out. I have the honor to remain Your Honor Your obedient Humble Servant S. Deighton.