Wellington 3rd Decr. 1865 My dear McLean I will send you the necessary by the "St.Kilda" in a few days. The operations at Poverty Bay appear to have been a gt. success - I can understand the never ending work you have to get through with our "friendlies" one thing I have no doubt about - viz - the cost of the said friendlies! What with fighting men on pay, "Kupapas" on rations, women and children do.do., we are about - as Paddy says - "kilt with kindness"! Seriously at the rate we are expending at present we shan't have a farthing to borrow or spend after Feby. - Do you think the "native difficulty" in New Zd. will be finished by that time? If not what is to be done? We mean to keep the compact we made with the prisoners lately taken, and fairly announced to them before a shot was fired - Those guilty of murder or other serious crime will be tried by Court martial, the rest will be sent (as will those in the prison ship here) to hard labor - probably at Otago - Land will be forfeited. It is full time the natives should know and beleive that the Govt. will really do what it says. Pity 'tis that after some 26 years of our (I was going to say "rule" but won't) presence in the Colony they have yet to find out that. I will not bribe them nor break faith with them. If they behave well - well and good - if ill so much the worse for them - I write this at two in the morning - so tired out I can scarcely see - Faithfully yours E.W. Stafford Remember me to Ormond