Whale Island, 14th Sept. H. M. S. Brisk My dear Mr. McLean, You will be glad to hear that the expedition is safely landed and in possession of Opotiki. We arrived off there at daylight on the 8th and the Huntress piloted by Levy at once started with 200 men to cross the bar but the rascal deliberately ran her ashore though I had pointed out the passage to him. We only succeeded in getting those men landed from the stranded steamer, when it came on to blow and we had to put to sea for two days. Meanwhile they got the Huntress afloat again, but with a broken steam pipe which my Chief Engineer has since repaired, and I had the Huntress out across the bar yesterday - We have had great difficulties to contend with from the weather and even now there is about 20 Tons here to be landed which I am taking on board here from the Lady Bird so as not to obtain her - Huntress will be most useful to them at Opotiki so I have told Mr. Stalker to remain there for the present - I have put a 6 pounder gun into her and supplied her with 50 fathoms of Chain Cable as hers was not trustworthy - Our Sailmaker also finished her sails, and she is now in an efficient state; but tho' her draught of water is very well suited for the service yet she has not sufficient power as the freshes are strong. The weather today does not admit of broaching the bar, and so I am sheltering under Whale Island which has been a most friendly asylum for us. The Huntress will want coal before long but she has enough to do the work in the river for some time as I gave her 10 Tons at Hicks bay - Yours very truly, Charles W. Hope.