produce actual mischief. I extremely deprecate the "cat and dog" line of conduct pursued by many of our officers towards each other. The gravity of our native difficulties is a source of sufficient anxiety - without the worry of these wretched officers quarrels superadded and I do not wonder at Rolleston and Cooper being glad to be rid of the bother. I hear that the Napier people are going to give you a dinner on the 10th. I am glad of it. It will give you an opportunity of addressing your constituents without subjecting you to annoyances which sometimes occur on a platform. Have just received your scolding telegram re Murimohi boundary line and would at once have satsified your enquiries had it been possible - but as Booth is away from Whanganui I doubt very much whether there will not be considerable delay before we get the desired information. I have just seen Dr. Pollen he tells me that the meeting at Otaki was a satisfactory one - no complaints and the natives were very well behaved.