Onehunga, March. 30 /61. My dear McLean, I take advantage of Mr.Wilson's going down in the ''Fawn'' to drop you a line having little to report - Everything is quiet here, only routine office work going on - Halse came in from Waiuku this morning - Katipa is gone at last - he died on Monday and was buried in the sand hills on Thursday (I believe). We are sending his widow a suit of mourning Searancke and Charon left on Thursday the former for Waiuku the latter for Mangatawhiri to return by way of the Wairoa - Te Waka (of Coromandel) came in from Waikato on Thursday and reports favorably. I have heard nothing of Tipa or Taraia as yet - Wata Kukutai returned from Kaipara a day or two since. He does not approve of the Governor's goingto Taranaki and says he would not have accompanied him had he been invited to do so. He says the Maori King question is the 'take' of the wa and that should he first settled as failing that there can be no peace Maihi Kawiti at the head of a party of 300 have come down to Mangawhai to fetch the bones of Mate causing some apprehension to the settlers and alarm to the Kaipara natives - but there is no reason to doubt his intentions and the summary way in which he dealt with a case in which some of his people intrigued with a settler has won him golden opinions. Rogan attends the office regularly he is out here this evening and will spend tomorrow with us. The news by the English Mail has been brought by the 'Kati' from Sydney, thus forestalling the arrival of the Mail Steamer which we are now looking for hourly - Major Genl. Cameron is appointed to the command in New Zealand. Matini of Whaingaroa writes to say that there is a report that the Thames tribes will take up arms to avenge the death of Te Wetini, he does not attach much importance to the rumor - Now having spent so many words in telling you nothing I think I may cease as I dare say you have quite enough to engage your attention where you are. People in Auckland are quiet at present but there are indications of a storm which will burst when a little more material has been collected upon which to work - We may look out for squalls in due course. We are awaiting anxiously the next news from Taranaki though I scarcely expect anything very definite will be accomplished offhand, and we shall have to wait for anything like a ''settlement of the question''. Meanwhile, the weapons are changed and instead of is a step in the right direction. Wishing you every success and that we may have peace with at leasta between ourselves and the late belligerents. Believe me, Dear McLean, Faithfully yours, Thos. H. Smith. D. McLean, Esq.