cause a serious difficulty between the parties --- Will you please ask Mr. Cooper to write recommending that the question should be settled between themselves. Since writing the above I received your letters of the 1st Inst. and the instructions therein contained shall have my immediate attention. Since the last skirmish between Raniera and Katatori in which so many were wounded, it seems to me a change has taken place for the better in the minds of the natives generally and with the exception of te Harana and Mohi, the others would I believe be only too glad to give the matter up. R. Brown the other day proposed a truce for 3 months, to which Katatori and W. Kingi at once assented, but some of Rawiri's party objected, at the same time they were not displeased with the proposal. Much will depend upon Ngatiruanui, should they return again it is impossible to say what they are likely to do. According to the native mode of dealing they have had their fight, and they have no right to return to Waitaha which is a separate question. There is another monster meeting to be held soon at Kaihihi which I suspect has reference more to their confederation against the sale of land, than the New Plymouth question. With regard to troops I agree with the general opinion here, that they are necessary for the safety of all. Even supposing the present quarrel should die out, the presence of troops in the neighbourhood will serve as a check to any future outbreak and will cause some of the murderous spirits amongst us to pause before blood is spilt again. I should think any number under 400 troops would not be advisable to send, should the Government send any, although that number would be a mere handful a gainst the force that would in my opinion be brought to bear on us, if war were to follow, because I believe we should have the Waitara Natives (except Ihaia) and the various settlements along the Coast as far as the Wariti against us as well as Ngatiruanui and Upper Taranaki, which would probably muster 1200 men. There are about 200 men of the friendly Natives who might be depended upon. The lower Taranakis would look on for a time and join the winner. The Maniapoto natives have no wish for war, and will not interfere unless we are attacked and then only at our particular request. At the same time I have not the slightest apprehension of anything