Tauranga July 31 1870 My Dear Sir I am up here for the prupose of getting the money for my men I leave here for Te Teko as soon as Mair comes in with his men in order that I may know when to bring my men to Matata to meet the Colonel. I forwarded you letters from Ruatahuna they seem favourable but I have heard from Major Mair that he has heard from Nepia, the man who he sent up by Whakatane that the letter was written secretly and that the Uriwera were in a great state when they heard of it he says that Rangiaho and Hoani Paiaha are playing false this man Hoani Paiaha is a great ruffian he is known by the name of ''Rihari in Whanganui and the Uriwera look on him as a tangata ''nukanuka'' and when he got to Ruatahuna he said ''me homai a maungapowhatu a Ruatahuna ki au ma taku ringaringa e tuku atu kia te karaka this greatly enraged the Uriwera as Mr. Clarke had said in his letter that the land would not be taken - I should strongly recommend that this Hoani on his return be invited to return to Whanganui as he is a dangerous man in a place like the Uriwera he is an unmittigated liar and a man that knows too much of course he is sure to use his knowledge to bad purposes - Mair and I will try and get into Ahikereru as soon as possible and there treat with the Uriwera we shall take as many men as we can with us as it is always well to be prepaired for any supprise although I do not anticipate anything of the sort. I think myself that some of the Uriwera will come in this time but not all - With regard to the report about Mair and myself it is a most malicious and scandalous affair I have written officially to you on the subject and hope the matter will have the strictest investigation as if it was the case we are not fit to hold the position we do and if untrue we ought to be cleared of such a serious charge of course it is hard to prove a negative but I can only give a most unquallified denial of the charge. With regard to the future of the Uriwera I would strongly suggest that a road be made from Ahikereru (after the Uriwera come out) to Waikaremoana this road would perhaps be of little use now but it would open up the country so as to prevent the possibility of another brake out it is not the number of men that we have to fight against but the country if a road were put right through it there would never be any more fighting. My men have quite minds that they are to go in after Te Kooti and hunt him up after the Uriwera come out and I think if they do come out that my men with Mairs men and a few more there would be no chance for Kooti - Our men are well trained now they only want to be armed with breech loaders and they would be fit to go against anything in the Uriwera country. I will send up an orderly with any news from Te Teko and telegraph it to you from Taupo. Te Waru and party are at Hukanui (Ruatahuna valley) he Te Waru is anxious to give in and spoke better than any man in Ruatahuna - Maiha one of T.K. head men is at Ahikereru I shall try and get hold of him and if so keep him till I hear from you what is to be done with him he is one of the chief murderers I have his wife at Te Teko he came to Ahikereru with the object of seeing me. Believe me to remain Yours truly George Preece.