kind from his Excellency’s Government, I propose so to delay until it shall have been decided in the General Assembly in what respect, and in what degree the burden of the war is to be borne by the Colony generally.

The uncertainty of the extent of the war, and as to how far some parts of the Auckland Province may yet be involved, is a further reason why I should defer employing the money. I think it would be wrong to make use at so early a stage of the generous gift that may soon be as much or more needed by persons more closely connected with Auckland. In such a case, I should wish either to return the money into your hands, or to throw it into a more general fund, applicable for the relief of sufferers in any part of the Island.

I believe one of the hardest trials the settlers here will have to experience will follow the establishment of peace and the cessation of all military pay and rations, and the return to their homesteads, ruined by neglect where they shall have escaped violence. In anticipation of this time, if for no other reason, it would, I think, be right to defer the immediate use of the funds.

I am safe in saying, on behalf of every person in this Province, that the friendly help of the people of Auckland is highly valued, and that our settlers are greatly encouraged by this and similar acts of kindness from other quarters which have accompanied the war. I trust the mutual good-will so stimulated may never flag, but that, when no long time hence our population and civilisation meet on the common boundaries of the Provinces, we shall be found substantially, as well as in form, one undivided nation.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)
G. CUTFIELD,
Superintendent.

J. Logan Campbell, M.D.,
Chairman to the Auckland Taranaki Relief Fund.

Superintendent’s Office,
Dunedin, 16th April, 1860.

Sir,—On behalf of the settlers of Otago, I have the honor to convey to you the heartfelt sympathy they entertain towards their fellow-countrymen in Taranaki in the distressing circumstances under which you are now placed, and to express our earnest prayer to God that, ere this reaches, peace and safety may have been fully restored. As, however, it is feared that many of your outlying settlers may have suffered the loss of their all under the casualties of war, we were desirous of manifesting our sympathy by a pecuniary contribution, to be placed in the hands of your Honor for the relieving of any such distress; but, as we are without any authentic information as to the extent or nature of the distress, I have the honor to request that you will, if necessary, draw upon the Provincial Treasurer of Otago at sight for any sum not exceeding One Thousand Pounds, to be applied as you may see fit.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)
JAMES MACANDREW,
Superintendent.

His Honor
The Superintendent,
Taranaki.

Superintendent’s Office,
New Plymouth, 27th April, 1860.

Sir,—I have the honor to convey my grateful acknowledgements to yourself and the settlers of Otago for the warm sympathy they have manifested towards the settlers of Taranaki.

The duties which have devolved on the Taranaki people are and will be very arduous, but the knowledge that they are sympathised with and assisted by their fellow-colonists has cheered them in their long night watches. The losses sustained up to this time have been very considerable, as the whole of the country has been abandoned. In the Omata District nearly every house has been sacked and reduced to bare walls; while in the Bell Block five homesteads have been burned down. The heart of the settlement has not yet been invaded, but it is in hourly peril.

The Provincial Government, assisted by that of the Colony, has been using its best endeavours to meet the demands made upon it for the housing and support of the country families, and the timely assistance afforded us by our nearest neighbour, Nelson, has enabled us to relieve our overcrowded town of 430 women and children.

The war, at this moment, is confined within the limits of our small Province, but great agitation exists throughout Waikato, and to that district we look with considerable anxiety for intelligence. Should the people of Waikato, at a meeting shortly to take place, determine to render no aid to our disaffected natives, I trust the war will soon end, and a wider field be opened for the energies of the settlers of Taranaki.

I propose to retain the power of drawing for the considerable sum you have so generously placed at my disposal, should the necessities of our people at any time require extraneous support, or until after the termination of the war.

I will do myself the pleasure of writing