Napier, April 18th, 1871. My dear McLean, The Star goes presently and I must write a line in continuation of my letter written before I left for Poverty Bay but which there has been no chance of sending earlier. My official will tell you all about the expedit. and return of Ngatiporu - Ropata no doubt had done his best as his state and the condition of his men showed they were nearly all of them covered with boils brought on by want of food and exposure - The prisoners were a miserable lot and not worth meddling with so I arranged with Ropata to take them to his settlement - I fear he makes these prisoners work hard, so that it is no bad plan to give them to him - I talked with him about Renata Hamuhamu and as he still wished to have him and I am unable to get any evidence to convict him of the murders of the European women and children I told Ropata he should have him - At the same time I told Ropata had there been any evidence to convict him of the charges that were made against him I would have had him tried - Whilst on that subject I told him of your intention to arrest and punish Reihana and to my astonishment he expressed strong approval of his being tried and punished. Ropata believes Te Kooti is still hiding somewhere near Te Haupapa and I proposed and he cordially agreed to make a mokiri to there in about three weeks time - The plan is to say nothing of any intention of the kind but for Ropata to mount about fifty picked men ride down to Poverty Bay and ride in to beyond Ngatapa taking food on the horses - they wd. then leave the horses and make the Haupapa in a days march and he thinks he will catch Kooti off his guard if he be near there - Of course we may hear of T.K. being elsewhere and in such case Ropata wd. be advised but failing that the above plan is to be tried - He fell in with my proposal at once saying he had dreamt he was to catch Te Kooti in that way - The Napier goes back to take them home in a day or two - they wished to stay for a time at Poverty Bay to recruit and spend their money and no doubt they are having a nice drunken time of it. I went over the proposed road works and have had to alter them considerably but hope soon to get them started - the Plains I went all round and saw as much of the settlement as if I had lived there for months - It is a nice place but accounts of it are somewhat exaggerated - the settlement is increasing the Militia roll having increased from 140 to 240 in the year - the settlement of Ormond has mainly caused this - I urged Read and others to open some of the good land they have bought from the Natives and sell it to bona fide settlers in small Blocks and both Reid and Westrup and Johnstones promised me to do so -the settlement is much retarded by having no local govt. to do anything wanted - I received a line from you by the Star and am glad to hear you are coming to nearer terms with Rewi Tawhiao I dont care about I wd. rather see him fall and think he will if you let him alone - Respecting Paeroa's telling the Urewera they were all to return, you will have copy of my letter to Whenuanui on the subject, and see what I have done is quite in the direction you wish. I hear at the Meeting of the Tribe just concluded at Rua-ahuna that the Tribe agreed to come over entirely to the Govt. no doubt I shall have letters directly from Whenuanui fixing some time to meet them - It is also said that Kooti is at Waikaremoana, this way be true or not, if it is, it is possible they may hand him over to us - A considerable meeting is taking place at Taupo Matuaha and other West Taupo Hau Haus are at Tokano -Hare Tauteka is very useful there but he and old Toihipi hate one another like poison and it is difficult to keep them working together - Karaitiana is to talk with you about 70 Mile Bush tomorrow - He is a cunning wretch and is as I though at the bottom of all the difficulty in the purchase. Locke is no match for him - I want you not to omit writing for Hoani Maihana Huru and Peeti with their help we will settle the business when you come - I am over head and ears in work Prov. Council just about to meet - When will you be here? Always Yours very truly, J.D. Ormond.