Auckland Feby. 3rd. 1871. My dear Mr. McLean, There is very little reliable news from the Waikato. Dr. Pollen tells me that you heard before you left Auckland on Tuesday night last that two Europeans had been fired on, and that Tapehema had detached a party of 8 to kill and destroy. I believe in spite of what has appeared in this mornings "Southern Cross" as a true and faithful account of the circumstances of the case that it is not true. With regard to Rewi having gone with a party of 150 to stop the road and telegraph it has proved to be greatly exaggerated. Rewi simply went to take those of his people who were at work on the Niho o te Kiore road away. The person who just reported also corrected his statement this morning