Signs of a retreat, or at least a suspension of hostilities, were evident. 700 British troops returned to Auckland in mid May and others followed over the next three weeks. The remaining troops, which General Cameron left under the command of Colonel Greer of the 68th Regiment, were instructed to patrol the district. There were no obvious plans for a winter campaign.
"I have set to work to make myself comfortable, have dug out my tent, put an old one over it and made it very comfortable. The ground is well suited to digging out as it is good clay & sand soil. I have dug about 4 feet deep, and managed a capital fireplace that draws to perfection, stretcher bed, table, & all the luxuries of the season, so that tho' under canvas for the winter, not the least to be pitied. We have had a very rough time of it up to this, so you may fancy I am glad, now that the weather has got bad, to get comfortable. A friend of mine once told me about the weather out here, that it blew a gale every day in the week and a storm on Sunday and he was not far wrong when he made that quaint remark.
I went out with a patrol last week about 5 miles inland but saw not Maoris or sign of them, so I hope they will not give me any trouble, I think they will regret it if they do.
I like this place very much. It is very prettily situated overlooking the harbour which separates it from Te Papa. The only drawback is that I have no communication with HQ except at low water, when the harbour is fordable in one place. I was over there yesterday and walked back rather late for the tide, so that I got it as high as the hips, this is all very well in warm weather, but not on a cold night."