Woodlands May 24th /63 My dear McLean, The news from Taranaki is indeed horrible, though it is only what we have all been looking for by every mail - It seems inconceivable how they could have sent such weak escorts through a country infested by that scoundrel Kingi and the ruffianly Patukai - I send you an official report herewith, which as far as I can judge, is the true state of the natives here - the removal of the Waitara question from the war, has taken away the only