. Opunake. July 28th. 1871. My dear Sir, Mr. Carrington told me, when I got to New Plymouth, that he had written to apprise you of the death of my mother; as he knew I should not have time to do so; as I had to write to friends in England and elsewhere, and had little time to myself, I did not write you on the subject. Although of a good old age, my Mother's death took us all very much by surprise; for although she had been very unwell during the early part of the Winter, for a few weeks previous to her death, she had been looking remarkably well. I had only left New Plymouth four days before it happened; and was at Pariaka at the time, having gone there at Mr. Parris's request, with Dr. O'Carroll, to visit the sick there. When I received the message I could hardly believe it true; having left her looking so well, and in good spirits, only a few days before. I wish to forward you, in remembrance of my Father and Mother, the Platinum chain that they used to prize so much. This chain was left by my Father's Will to Sir George Grey; but as he had one, he returned it as a present to my Mother. There are also a few books; which I hope you will also accept as remembrances of them. I will get them packed; and ask Mr. Carrington if he will kindly take charge of the parcel; when he goes to the Meeting of the General Assembly. You ask how I get on with my Native Police. I find them very well-behaved, and useful. The natives generally in this district are also well behaved, and reasonable in the various little matters of dispute that so often arise in Native districts, where the races are mixed. I cannot speak so well of many of the whites engaged at these Mills; who are often very unreasonable in their complaints of the natives; and when these little matters are enquired into, are invariably in the wrong. The most serious difficulty I have to contend with is the drunkenness in Maori Pahs. The Maoris are not steady enough workers to keep the Mills going. Consequently they advertised for Europeans to cut flax by contract. This brought into the district a number of drunken, worthless characters. Some of the Maoris smuggle grog from Town; and sell it in their whares. Consequently there were often scenes of drunkenness and quarreling in the Pahs; as these men used to resort to the Pahs at night, greatly to the annoyance of the quietly-disposed natives. Mr. Parris did not think it advisable to go to extremes, and seize the grog; but told me to check such proceedings as much as possible, by threatening the natives, the native-grog retailers, and visiting the pahs, and getting the Police to turn out these characters. There are now none of those drunken brawls. I also wrote to Mr. Parris, suggesting that a licence or permit granted to a European to sell in the Township, would afford a resort, safer than the pahs, for these characters. Mr. Parris agreed to this; and a person is now about to erect an Accommodation House in the Township. There is a great change for the better in the whole of the natives on the Coast. The Pariaka natives are becoming much more friendly; and I do not think there will be any serious opposition to the continuation of the road and telegraph line. All depends on Te Whiti. This clever and influential Chief's word seems to be law to all the natives from here to New Plymouth. I was at Pariaka a few weeks since; and he was friendly, and talked over old times, and seemed anxious to encourage whites to visit Pariaka. I was speaking with a very influential young Chief here, Ihahene; and asked him what he thought was the reason that Te Whiti who seems in all respects so friendly, still withheld his consent to the road. Ihahene said he thought it was pride; that if you were to communicate with him personally, it would greatly influence his actions at the first Meeting coming off in September. He says Te Whiti thinks himself equal to the King; and as such, would be more influenced by a communication direct from the Government, than through Officials. I should not wonder if some such feeling influenced this Chief; who, in all matters, keeps up great state; and treats all other Chiefs and natives as his inferiors. Even his uncle, Abraham, is nobody in his presence. The old Chiefs seem to have entirely lost their influence on this Coast; and the young men, such as Haoni Pihima, Katine, and Te Whiti, seem now to carry the swing. Old Abraham King seems to have given up all authority to his young men, and become a mere cipher in the Maori political world. He has claims North of Umuroa; and might be useful to the Government in forwarding the road, if he would exert himself; but he seems too much under the influence of Te Whiti, or too much afraid of opposing him. He is a little sulky at present, besides; he considers the Government have not recognised his services for getting the road made up to Umuroa from Opunake. Whether it is fear of offending Te Whiti, or being offended at his services not being recognised as he wishes, he seems at present rather opposed to the road proceeding; and he is about the only one of what we may term the Friendly natives here, opposed to it. The others seem anxious to see the work proceed, especially the wire. Te Komoko, son of old Nopera, of Otamatua, and half-brother of Te Whiti, came from Pariaka, and came to see me. I took him to the telegraph Office, and sent some messages to Patea, for his amusement. He went back to Pariaka very much pleased with the wire, and its performance. I think the natives generally are much pleased with it, and use it a good deal to communicate with their friends. I remain. dear Sir, Yours truly, (Signed) ---Wilson.