Dec 1865. Private. Dear Maclean, I write a line to say I got yours of 25 Nov. all right. I hope Fenton will be here in a few days when we will do all we can about your Native Lands Court. We are pressed on all hands to set them in motion. I observe what you say about Puckey. You seem to have been going ahead at Poverty Bay. Major Frazer should be more guarded in his despatches. I fear the flag of truce passage will be much cavilled at both here and in England -- especially as he says we killed 34 and wounded more than that number in a fair hand to hand fight in the open It will be best not to publish any Despatches until they have reached us. I am very sorry that the ''Sturt'' was sold before your letter arrived. I believe the St. Kilda is a more powerful boat but perhaps not so well adapted to the East Coast service. You will hear all about the Wairoa Detach. from the proper channel. Haultain is gone up to Wanganui and Taranaki and I have to work double tides to keep both offices going. We have a very friendly and submissive letter from Wm. Thompson. Te Us the prophet seems also giving in. William King sending us friendly notices of intended mischief from stray Waikatos I think we are come to the beginning of the end. Many thanks for your offer to help me to solve different Native questions. I have one very difficult to solve at present viz. where to find the money to pay all the Native Pensioners, Heads of Runanga, Warders, assessors, Kareres etc. etc. truly their name is legion and 5 out of 6 of the Res. Magistrates swear they cannot be reduced without throwing their Districts into dire commotion, which I dont believe half of - my difficult question is where is the money to come from". Yours very truly, A.H. Russell. Sunday evening, 3rd. Dec. 1865. Since writing the foregoing I have heard from Fenton. He says Munro told the Resd. Magistrates all about how to proceed - yet I am eventually asked "who are we to apply to?" - How should we proceed?" etc. Turton and Purvis at Taranaki quite at issue and great danger of further complications there in consequence - but Haultain I hope will be able to stop it - some of the people there acting very tyranically and as I think foolishly. A.H.R.