I have the honour to acquaint your Excellency that, in accordance with the intention I expressed in my letter of the 5th instant (No. 40/8), I proceeded to Hokianga on the 11th accompanied by Captain Nias, the officers of the Government, and the Rev. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Clarke, of the Church Missionary Society.

On arriving at Waihou, a place on the river about seven miles above the mission-station, I was received by the members of the Wesleyan Mission, and all the principal European settlers of the neighbourhood.

From these gentlemen I received every assurance of fidelity to Her Majesty, and the most hearty congratulations to myself.

At the conclusion of this ceremonial I proceeded down the river in boats that were provided for me, attended by the British inhabitants in eight other boats, all displaying the British flag. On passing the Hauraki a salute of thirteen guns was fired, and on my arrival at the Mission-station I was again visited by the resident gentlemen, to whom I addressed a few words expressive of the high sense I entertained of this earnest of loyal zeal in forwarding the views of Her Majesty's Government, and of the honour they had done me by their very flattering attention. I at the same time signified my intention to hold a meeting of the chiefs on the following day, to which I invited all the Europeans of every class and nation.