Napier June 14th, 1869 Dear Sir, I sent you word that I had spoken to Karaitiana about sending some men up to Haroto to scout etc. The time was critical. We dont know what yet may happen. Karaitiana's people have not yet started, they leave here tomorrow -- if their back pay be settled up -- I told you that I had made all arrangements for the flax for Mr.Rolleston -- I have seen Mr.Richmond and also Mr. Batkin paymaster General on account of my accounts against the Government. There is £629.12.2 due on the East Coast surveys and £1256.3.8 on the Petane -- Mohaka Block. The Government had lost all the accounts I had previously sent in -- so Cooper sent me word -- a nice state of affairs in a public office. You will have heard that Maltby is dead. He died today -- I have given Fannin some information from time to time about Taupo and the movements there. What a fearful mess they made of occupying Taupo to go there without preparation with only some (as far as we can make out) twenty men, and leave a part of them at an out of the way place like Opepe to be knocked upon the head. All communication between us and St. John seems to be cut off -- I have letters from Te Heuheu and from Tukurehu the Hauhau chief of Tauranga Taupo, to Paora Hapi, Poihipi, and Hohepa, relating a conversation between Heuheu and the King in which the King tryed to persuade Heuheu to let the Kooti pass through Taupo unmolested -- Also a conversation about allowing the Duke of Edinburgh up the Waikato etc. These letters were written and received here before the fight at Opepe, I showed them to H.R.Russell and he said there was not much in them. Karaitiana has got them I hope get them before the Lord Ashley sails -- Your enemies here say you are going to promise to start an army of 2,000 Natives without pay etc., and without organization -- I say, you never advocated such a thing -- but a mixed force. I hope when the question of steamer with England comes on people will not forget communication with California now the railroad is open across America -- There is a rumour here that Wilson is looking for the office of Attorney General in place of Mr. Prendergrast. We spent a very pleasant evening at yours the evening before last. The letter that was found by the dead bodies at Opepe signed by Te Kooti and Turuki threw suspicions on Paora Hapi -- Hohepa and Pohipi, which were intended as a blind it seems. Col. Lambert offered the command at Haroto to Major Carlyon. You can imagine his disgust and rage. Mr. Richmond promised Tareha at Waiohiku that there should be a large force of Europeans stationed at Napier Wairoa and poverty Bay during the winter months -- I have not seen them yet -- What authority have Pirth, G.O.Davis, Judge Martin and others to act as they do -- Could I get privately or for the Napier Atheneam -- The Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, Dr.Hector. I remain, Yours truly, S. Locke