Waipa August 6th/60 My dear Sir I take the liberty to write to you these few lines to inform you of the of the [sic] movements of the natives in this district three maories that went to Taranaki arrived here on the 28th last month with letters from Epiha for Tamihana at Mata Mata the Chief of the Nga ti Haua tribe, for more assistance the result is that the greater portion of the people of these parts are making ready for Taranaki and I fear that they will muster rather strong, the reports of those that have returned from the seat of war as been the cause of excitement on the minds of the natives to a great pitch by their tales of exaggeration All they have to do is to go to Taranaki and cut down the white people like a reaper cutting wheat such are their tales the consequence is that I find we cannot depend on a single maori those that I least suspected are the most active to induce others to rise, you will be surprised to hear that I have strong reasons to suspect our old friends at Mokau are as active has the rest but on a more underhand way in fact you must not be surprised to hear of a general rise of all the tribes in these parts south it was only last night that I was quite confounded when I heard from my wife reports of alarming nature and I have every reason to fear will prove too true you must be aware that the tribe of the Ngati Haua & Ngati Koroki muster strong and reports are such that all will join from Mata Mata down to Mokau heads Potama's sons are most assiduous to perswade others to rise and I am sorry to say that they are all to ready to listen rumour is such that Ngati Hauas will be here about the latter end of this week and I think if they are all of the same mind of these that there will be a large number these are only waiting for them to arrive they have not put a grain of seed in the ground this year up here all their thoughts are at Taranake since the last affair at the seat of war from what I can observe there seems a feeling more prejudicial to the Pakeha to what they had a short time ago only two natives were slain belonging to this part I am only sorry that they did not all meet the same fate it is of no use to attempt to enter into argument with them they pay no attention to you I have not the least doubt you will hear of these reports from [Waipa August 6th/60 other sources besides myself you must excuse me for a bad correspondent but you may depend on this as facts, and if you have a moment to spare please let me know for I found out that the natives that have to do with the mail gave instructions to the mail man not to take my letters they have some idea I should write to Town [?but I blame Mr Morgan for this, I trust this will find you quite well in the enjoyment of good health with my kind wishes for your welfare believe me I am Dear Sir Your Obedient Lewis Hetet Donald McLean Esq.