Napier. May 4th, 1872 My dear McLean, As the Rangatira returns to Auckland tomorrow I will write a few lines this evening to go by her. My plans and work have been terribly interfered with by this break down with the Nebraska, and I scarcely see how I shall get through my work - First about getting to Wellington I shall wait to see if anything is heard of the Nebraska and if not I shall have to take the little 'Napier' I suppose and go by her - The Wellington work will occupy me there fully a clear fortnight then I must return here, get through the Session of the Provincial Council, and then set to work to prepare for the Assembly Session. It has leaked out here that I do not intend to give up the Superintendency - it came through Wellington from Buchanan's brother - now as I only wrote about it to Fox and Gisborne the subject must have been talked over at Wellington - Napier Buchanan is wroth as he was silly enough to think he wd. be elected if I gave it up - his brother also telegraphed from wellington that the other members of the Govt were opposed to my retaining it i.e. all except you. Of course I shall hear all about this when I get down there, but my mind is quite made up, and if it is thought undesirable that a member of the Govt. shd. be a Superintendent then I shall give up the former and keep the latter - Since you left it has become more apparent than before that it wd. be suicidal on our part for me to give up the key to the command here. Those wretches the Russells are more active than ever - every transaction they can get at they are pepping up - their activity is wonderful. The following are transactions they have in hand and will if they can force into the Supreme Court, Raukawa-Kinross, Ngatarawa and Mangateretere, yourself, Camphell late Chapmans - Colemans run - Douglas and Will's Patangata hill run. My Epriama leases - Also Henry Russell has secured Arihi's (Hapuku's neice) interest in Heretaunga Block and has today filed his Deed. You heard I expect about Arihi having turned out a minor. I don't think H.R. will make anything of what he has bought at Heretaunga, but he will cause endless litigation and expense - One thing is quite certain that he means real mischief in all the things he is going at - his action in this Heretaunga case clearly proves that. A great deal of my time is necessarily taken up in counteracting the schemes of these scoundrels and it is hard work to check them. Money is spent by them freely -hundreds of pounds have paid away the last week or two - The Natives inland are in a state of ferment at the proposals of repudiation urged upon them and one sees clearly the power of mischief that one or two unscrupulous bad men have with the Natives - I dont know how far Wilson is concerned with them in the Native work, but the whole party are wild to find I am going to keep the Superintendenc they do not hesitate to own their disappointment and are very bitter about it - On the other hand all other people in the place express the greatest satisfaction - the only members of Council who will be likely to be hasty about it are Rhodes and Buchanan. Rhodes will not likely take any open part - but the other is very violent and may, not that he can do any harm - He is very silly abt. it for he had not a shadow of a chance. I have enquired as to the chances and know he wd. only have got one vote. I see even the "Telegraph" has an article to-night very strong in my favour at which I am much astonished I enclose you the paper. About your private concerns I do not think the enemy have got anything more - their hope is that Locke and Lyndons Deed will be upset and that then their Deed will come in, in which case they as Trustees wd. go at your Hapuku purchase. We have no fresh word as to the position of the Locke Lyndon case since you were here I will find out at Wellington what is the position and let you know - Kinross is writing you to get some conveyance for Tareha of the shares in Mangateretere, it is necessary to have this or the property will be sold by order of the Court - Kinross will explain the position to you - Weber was telling me there have been several eqnuiries lately about your unpurchased 5/-s land it seems you have about 14,000 acres and in good large Blocks - the land buying mania is in force again with increased price of wool and several parties are putting up land - The Country is looking splendid the rains we have had have caused the feed to grow wonderfully and we are secure of good feed through the winter. I send you some correspondence referring to Ngatiporou and the dispute between Mokena and Wikiriwhi -Campbell seems to think it serious - Will you either write yourself to the parties or let me know what you think best. Ferris is still out after Te Kooti the work Ferris has done is astonishing he has shown very great perseverance and energy and deserves consideration Whether he is ultimately successful or not. I am very glad to hear things are being worked right again at Auckland - the fact is the place wants continual looking after and if that is neglected there is discontent. They certainly have no cause for a very large share of public works are going on in Auckland Province -The works to the North of Auckland are going on very satisfactorily and by the time the Assembly meets we shall have done a great deal of really useful work - As for the old Governor I am much amused at what I hear about him - I gathered from Locke that he considered, the state of things he found at Taupo was due to his going there - And now he seems to think if he went 60 Waikato the native difficulty would be at an end. I hear that he deplores being subject to Ministerial control and appeals to the results of his Taupo trip as evidence of what he could do if you wd. leave him to himself. He told Locke among other things - that you had a fair knowledge of what was going on along the Coast but hadnt anything like his (Governors) knowledge of the state of the interior - What an ass the man must be -However he can do little harm except by his stupid talk. Another favourite topic on which he talks to everybody seemingly is the unconstitutional way in which the Govt, is conducted. By all means keep him at the Pheasants that is more in his line- Vogels arrangements at Melbourne are admirable and most creditable to him - knowing as we do the difficulties he had to contend with what he has done is surprising - I wont write him as he will be down so shortly but please remember me very kindly to him and give my congratulations on the very satisfactory result of his Mission. Brogden and Reeves will arrive in Wellington tonight or tomorrow it is probable a visit to the Middle Island may have done him good - At any rate we must insist on the works starting without delay and I will take care Auckland is one of the first Railways put in hand. That is all I think of. Always Yours very sincerely J. D. Ormond