Mount Herbert. 28th. May 1863. My dear Maclean, Captain Lambert is just starting for Napier and will report to you how things are going on here. The non arrival of the Mail here till this morning occasioned considerable alarm both among Europeans and Natives and it was a relief to find that nothing serious was the cause of stoppage. At the same time it was unfortnate that these soldiers shd. have committed the outrage they did, and I hope they have been suitably punished. There are very few Maoris about at present and evidently they are uncomfortable. Some great meeting took place at Porangahau on Monday, but I have not heard the result. I fully expected to have seen Ormond here today, but I shall no doubt either see or hear from him in the course of the day. When the Napier Mailman did not arrive yesterday at noon I took on myself the responsibility of sending an express fast, as there might be accounts from Wellington or Wairarapa. I shall send on the overland mail tomorrow or Saturday (if it arrives here) by some safe hand and you must make it all right with the Post Office people. I have not seen Cooper, but he writes me he has no fears and he commends a "never minding" policy. I demur to that notion, and recommend a state of preparedness, while pursuing a conciliatory and quiet course towards the Maoris. I have set going the preparation of the Material for a stockade ostensibly for a different purpose. Captain Lambert will speak to you about Mr. Locke remaining here for a short time if you can spare him, as he can acquire full information quietly from the Natives as to what is going on at Manawatu and Waikato without exciting suspicion. Let me have a telegram of your views by any chance up country. Capt. Lambert will speak to you about establishing at least a channel of communication once a week besides the post and we shd. have authority to employ express whenever a matter of urgency presents itself. In these times we must not stand too rigidly on the score of saving expenses. Gollan is also going down to Napier. His notions are too much on the do nothing principle. I remain in haste, Yrs always, H. R. Russell.