Major A tkinson, the late Defence Minister of the colony, has addressed the following interesting letter to the settlers of Taranaki, per favor of the Taranaki Herald. The letter is dated from London, 21st May, and gives a clear view of the aspect of New Zea land affairs m England. The Major says :— Since my arrival here I have endeavoured as far as possible to ascertain how colonial questions generally, but more especially those relating to New Zealand, were looked upon by the English public. The results of my enquiries are, 1 regret to say, most unsatis factory ; for although I was prepared to find the " Salutary Neglect Policy " generally advocated,- 1 was not prepared for the all but total indifference shown by all classes to all colonial questions, except those which might cause the expenditure of British money. The great difficulties with which we are contend ing, aud the enormous sacrifices we have made, and are making, are practically un known and unacknowledged here. There are not, I believe, a dozen members of the House of Commons who know — or care to know — our real position at the present time. Nor is it against indifference only that we have got to contend ; for there is prevaling a very general feeling that we wish to be pro tected by British troops and British money, upon land which we have either obtained by fraud from the Maoris, or wrongfully taken from them. When the news of the horrible massacre at the Wairoa arrived, it is true that there was; for a short time (but only for a very short time), an uneasy feeling awakened m some quarters, and, as you will have seen, several of the papers urged the Government to send more troops, or to assist us m some other way. The Government were undoubtedly shaken for a moment, and had further great disasters followed at once, would probably have been induced by Mr Fitzherbert to agree to guarantee a loan. But that there was any real desire to aid us, or any deep belief that we had a reasonable claim for succour, or were deserving of help, 1 cannot for an instant think ; for no sooner did the news reach England, than orders were at once sent out recalling, uncondi tionally, the 18th Kegimeut. 