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the means of restraining them from any future dangerous collisions, calculated not only to endanger the safety of the inhabitants, but to retard the peaceable and progressive improvement of a most interesting and otherwise very flourishing district. 6 The precautionary steps which I would take the liberty of suggesting are, Firstly,—The construction of a good Block-house and Stockade. Secondly,—The militia, which must number nearly 500 men, to be periodically called out and trained, as provided for by the " Militia Ordinance." Thirdly,—The augmentation of the police force, to be composed chiefly of intelligent active natives, selected from different tribes in the country, so that every reliance could be placed on their acting with impartiality ; and, 1 think it mav be safely assumed from the courage and fidelity with which the natives enrolled in such a force have acted during war times in the colony, that they might in any future emergency be safely relied upon, and they could be, when not required for their police duties, advantageously employed in opening up and constructing roads through the Province, or attending to such other public improvements as are much wanted. To the efficiency of such a force the utmost importance might be attached. Fourthly,—Two pieces of artillery and a good supply of small arms and amunition are much required, as there are none but old condemned ones at Taranaki; and it might be advisable to have besides those for the use of the militia, some arms to spare for such of the friendly natives as are destitute of them, with an understanding that such arms would only be given out in the event of being actually required for service, and to be afterwards given into the custody of the officer who may have charge of them. It may be apprehended that the natives might consider such preparations as indicating some hostile intention on the part of the Europeans, but the fact of their being informed that England is at war wiih a foreign power, and that their own conduct towards each other justifies the Europeans in being on their guard, would divest them of every suspicion of this nature, indeed many of them would willingly aid and co-operate in carrying out measures which they could not fail to perceive would be the means of preserving peace amongst themselves by giving them increased security of life and property, besides having the effect of enhancing their respect for British law and authority. It is not without some diffidence that I have taken upon myself to submit the foregoing measures for his Excellency's consideration, feeling, as I do, the extreme delicacy and difficulty of adopting effectual means for the security of a district situated as New Plymouth is, but I believe when taken into connexion with the steps now in progress for adjusting the land question at that place, and facilitating the acquisition of property by the chiefs in the English settlement, that the suggestions alluded to are the least expensive that could be adopted for ensuring any permanent degree of general peace and tranquility of that Province, I have, &c., Donald McLean, Land Commissioner, The Honorable The Colonial Secretary.