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opinion Commander Kelly was not to blame in the least, but on the contrary endeavoured to carry out the exigencies of the situation in the best possible way. Owing to the dense fog the troops did not arrive till 9 A.M. and there being but two small boats the landing of the whole party was not completed till 9.45 A.M. There was a distance of nearly 4 miles to be traversed in a very hot sun. An advance guard was formed and at 10.45 A.M. the column arrived at Taipo Hau City. Mrs Lockhart on arrival asked me to halt the column at the Temple and with the aid of the troops but without the least violence some 9 or 10 of the leading inhabitants, shopkeepers and others were brought to the Temple and there questioned separately as to what had become of Mr. May and his party. At first they denied all knowledge of him but gradually on being questioned separately they began to give detailed information with the result that we were satisfied that no positive injury had been inflicted on Mr. May's party; that he and all with him had made good their escape; but that the mat-shed in which he had been was burnt to the ground. Satisfied of this I assembled these men and having taken their names I informed them through the interpreter that their own Viceroy would deal with any damage already done with the utmost severity and that on and after the 17th, when it would become my duty under Your Excellency's orders to take over the District, any disturbance