place confidence in the opinions of either that gentleman or of R. Brown or Watt. The extensive transactions of a trading nature between Parris, Brown and the native should make us very cautious in adopting any of their views with regard to any particular body of them, whilst their general views on the connexion between Maori and European are I believe in many points correct. Stockman has in the present negotiations been active on the part of the Natives in bringing their offer to sell the land before the Superintendent and Mr. H. Halse and has I believe exerted himself as one connected by marriage with those natives to induce that portion of them to unite in offering their land to the Europeans. I took on Stockman more in the light of a Maori than a European, and as such to some extent instructed by them to make known their wishes to the Government; at the same time I believe him to be honestly doing all in his power to convince them that it is for the interest of the Maoris to dispose of their land to the Government. Whilst therefore I would not treat him as an agent I consider his representations worthy of all attention and under the advice of such a man as Mr. Whiteley with encouragement. If in this matter the claims of Ihaia and Nicorema be recognised and they are anxious to settle their quarrel by disposing of the land to the Europeans will not Katatori if he object to such sale be rightly pointed out as the man who stands in the way of peace? and is it not likely the tables will be turned upon him by his present adherents who appear to have become thoroughly tired of war? Could you obtain and send us an account of the rise, progress, decline and final