sent a messenger to Mr. Firth who was at Matamata to meet him respecting terms on which he wd. surrender -- further that Mr. Firth had appointed Thompson's Monument as the place to meet Te Kooti -- I was perfectly wild when I read this Telegram. I at once communicated with Gisborne who assured me he disapproved thoroughly of what Mr. Firth was doing -- to-night I have a telegram from Fox in which he says he wd. rather have a ten years war than make terms with Te Kooti -- I feel sure your view will be the same but from Pollen's telegram I am half afraid he knows what firth is doing. It would simply be ruin to the Colony as well as to your Govt, that shd. be made with Te Kooti. Gisborne will be sure to send you his own and also Fox's view so that I need not. Directly I received Pollens telegram I sent off a telegram after McDonnell directing him in positive terms not to recognize Mr. Firth in any sense or shape and if he were meddlesome to take any measures he thought requisite to end his officiousness. If I were commanding a force against Kooti and caught a man like Mr.Firth tampering with them I wd. simply hang him on the first tree I found and chance the consequences. Pray if he is within your reach