Confidential Turanganui Dec. 16 /68 My dear McLean, I hoped before this to have been on my way home, but Kootis activity and tenacity of life have made it nearly impossible to adopt even for a time a defensive attitude. the Ngatiporou left in very good humor but very tired. They promise a party of fresh men without delay and Hamlyn has gone in the ''Ahuriri'' with them to keep them lively I have promised them a piece of land on which to settle as in the case of Ohiwa and the Arawa. A similar promise has been made to Henari Tomoanas men and I am trying to get together the remnant of the defence force. All this of course involves the land question to which I will refer presently. We have now no strange natives in the district except H. Potae's men in the redoubt. I am getting the place made more defensible that we may be safe in case Kooti tries to double on Whitmore. All the constabulary are now at Patutahi or at work extending the dray road beyond. This may be