Wellington. January 11, 1845. My Dear Sir, I have been so very busy since my arrival here that I have not had time to write you before, but embrace a few leisure moments to do so now. We are in the midst of strife in this district, the Natives, as I expected refuse to leave the Hutt altho' payment has been made according to agreement to Rauparaha. Rangihaeta whose name is also to the agreement it is said is secretly encouraging the Natives in their refusal to remove. How the matter will end I know not. It has been left to the Governor, who I think will not be trifled with in this matter. George Clarke has returned to Auckland in the Brig and I believe will shortly leave the Department altogether but you probably saw him as the Brig touched at Taranaki on her route to Auckland. Respecting your district I fear there is still some trouble in store for you, the absentee claimants here seem very much dissatisfied with the arrangement made and their claims I fear will hardly be met by the funds reserved for that purpose, but I think it will be advisable for you to send me by return of post a copy of the boundaries of the block purchased, in case I should be able to make any arrangement with them here without the trouble which would inevitably attend a visit from them to Taranaki. When they first heard of it they were talking