Copy. Taranaki. 9 June, 1845. My Dear Sir, It is very uncertain when this letter may fall into your hands from the uncertainty of communication, I am induced to forward it by a Native who is going to Epiha's place at Manakau and as you directed in your long and welcome letter of May 21 (which contained the only detailed particulars of te Pahanga o Ngapuhi) I have always a letter ready to send. I believe that the first and most important matter I have to relate is that two Waikato women formerly of Taranaki captured by Waikato's one of whom has been married to a Chief had there absented themselves during the night from the Waikato's who were here on a visit returning some Taranakians and then on their way home, on missing the women the Waikatos went after them and they would not be given up this the Waikato's were greatly offened at particularly as they had not ill treated the women and as one of them had been married to the young lad before mentioned who is a relative of Kukutais - I have been twice to the place where the women are detained and striving to have them returned quietly but they do not intend to give them up the feeling is certainly confined to a few but so jealous are they of each others affairs that the better disposed ones will not interfere in having anything to do with them. Mr. Bolland also went with me but we could not succeed, since that Mr. Turton has gone and all we can do now is to wait quietly till we have your advice on the subject.