Tauranga 7th February 1869 My dear McLean You must not believe one hundreth part of the reports of the Auckland newspapers, as to what is going on at this place. A party of about 100 Hauhaus under old Hakoriah are (or rather have been) in the Bush south of this, but with the assistance of 200 Arawas, we are hunting them out, and are destroying their settlements and cultivations in every direction - There are also from 150 to 200 men at the Pirirakau villages (which we burnt down the other day) on the other side of the Wairoa, consisting of Ngatiporos, Ngatimarus, Ngatiraukawa and they say 10 or 12 Ngatihauas, but I hope to give them a good thrashing about Monday next, when our people will have pretty well destroyed all the cultivations to the South. These are very extensive, and there is sufficient food for many hundred people for 12 months - Of course in the Bush we cannot expect to finish matters so quickly and thoroughly as you did at Napier - The Opotiki people are in great alarm about the Uriweras, who are certainly assuming a very threatening attitude, but I am going down there this evening to see exactly how matters stand. Should the Uriweras move in this direction could not Fraser make a raid into their country from the Wairoa with his men and Kopu's party? I intend to destroy the settlements along the coast of those who are now in arms against us - The Arawas are splendid fellows, and fight in earnest - Yours very truly T. M. Haultain Received per Star of the Evening. J. Rhodes Also a number of other documents which you may like to have.