Camp Te---(?) Upper Wairoa 22nd. February 1866. Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. and date as per margin, (No. 1345/2 of 3-2-66), with its enclosures, and beg to refer the Government to my despatch of the 15th. ultimo, for a true account of the circumstances connected with the shooting of the four prisoners taken at Waikare Moana, the execution of whom I was quite unable to prevent. I have sent a copy of your letter to His Honor, Mr. McLean; whom I have requested, if he has not already done so, to give the Government the Native account of the matter. I may add that I presume my simple denial of the circumstances alluded to at the close of the paragraph, ever having taken place, will be sufficient for the Government. I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient servant, (Signed) James Fraser. To:- The Under Secretary, etc., etc., etc., Col. Def. Office Wellington. Yours very truly, A.H. Russell,