Poverty Bay 26th. Oct. 1871. My dear Sir, I have got my intimation to hand over the command of the District to Inspector Pitt. I hope my case is not an isolated one. It must be a very unpleasant task, saving the public money. A Trooper (Poverty Bay Volunteers) named Shuker some time ago made application to you through Captain Porter to be employed as orderly to the latter gentleman, to attend him up the coast on his visits to Ngtiporou. As Shuker has rendered good service to the country by his services on the West Coast under Von Tempsky and on the East under me, at Pukematri - Wairaengahika - Ngatipa etc. and has been with Captain Porter in the late expeditions of Ngatiporou I would recommend you to grant his request. An orderly is required in Gisborne for furthering the dispatch of business and from my own knowledge I am certain he would get service in that capacity. You will not, I hope, allow the prisoners given into the hands of Ngatiporou for safe keeping - to come back here again. The Native mind here is not sufficiently well ballisted to allow of such a thing being done with impunity, and there are not many cases where the friendlies are desirous of having them back. You have plenty of money for Native purposes - why not isolate these prisoners - or at any rate we pray you not to allow them to return here. My reason for speaking on the subject is that a considerable number of them are now in the Bay - they came on leave I suppose and I know they stop long enough to make themselves obnoxious. It is not pleasant for us who survive, to look on the faces of the co-partners of Biggs and Wilsons murderers. If you desire it I will write officially, giving you the names of the returned prisoners - and state also under whose charge they were. We hope you will keep Nesbitt as R.M. and M.D. to Constabulary and natives. I congratulate you on your strong position in the House. Believe me, Yours very truly, Chas. Westrup.