I need scarcely remark to His Excellency's Govt. that the mere fact of an attack upon Hawkes Bay would endanger the whole of the settlements in the Wellington Province and the destruction of life and value of property even in any of the smallest outsettlements in these provinces would have a most prejudicial effect upon the Native minds generally and tend more than anything else to renew and indefinitely prolong hostilities in the country. I should feel myself wanting in my duty to the inhabitants of Hawkes Bay who are in danger of losing their homes and property as well as to the interests of the General Govt. if I failed to bring the present critical state of that province