Napier, July 21st 1871 My dear McLean, The Nebraska is hourly expected so I will write you to go by her. First you will be vexed to see a rascally article that appeared in the Daily Telegraph, followed last night by another. Also a letter of Sutton's all directed against you in your private capacity. On the appearance of the first article I sent for Kennedy, Newton and other Directors and found they were as much disgusted as I was. From them I learnt that Sutton who is a large shareholder had caused young Price the Sub-Editor to write the article without the knowledge of any other Director. They promised me they would stop anything of the kind in the future except that if letters were written they would be published as letters. However notwithstanding this Sutton again last night had an article written and I believe now the paper will be wound up. The Directors wait however the arrival of Lord who is coming from A uckland in the Nebraska. Kinross wrote a letter in reply to the first article which you will also see. I am very vexed about this business as of course your enemies will circulate the slander without giving the other side and such things are very annoying however false and unfounded they may be. This is the first time this Paper has given any trouble altho' as you suppose it has been difficult to keep two Papers so antagonistic as the Herald and the Telegraph on the same side. So much for that. With regard to your Run matters I have seen Maddock and Turton today upon them and it is arranged those natives who have not yet appeared before him and that Turton shall examine at once/he will go out to Paki Paki for the purpose settling other cases at the same time. I find that in Block 1 Ngatarawa the signature of Peremana te Umu is required. In Block 2 the Lease is not yet signed and in Block 3 Temera te Mateaitu objects to sign the lease altho' he he says he approves of it, also Te Paki Paihau has not signed. I have urged Maddock to get these matters completed without loss of time - he came to me for advice on it. There is not much to tell you of that I have not already communicated by Telegraph. I am to meet the Natives on the 26th about Manawatu purchase. A considerable majority of the Grantees and all the principal people have signed the agreement to sell, but I expect a good deal of trouble with the Reserves. Peeti and others coming by the Rangatira will be a great help and I trust to get the matter settled. From what I hear from Locke he managed very well with Ngatiraukawa and left Hori Ngawhare and old Maihi te Ngaru together in the same hut. Hori told Locke he was anxious to push Govt. matters through but was afraid of Waikato. Other Ngatiraukawa living still further in the King country said the same and all including the Waikatos present made no secret that Waikato wants a "take" to quarrel upon. The principal ground of grievance at present is that Pakehas are leasing land outside the confiscated boundaries. John's information about the road from Niho o te kiore to Cambridge is all wrong, the road is very good, no difficulty of any sort or kind, less so Locke says than between Niho o te kiore and Taupo the truth is John's guide did not know the country and was funky and took him off the road under the ranges - the natives are much amused at his adventures as got from the papers and say the places he got through are impassable altogether. The Rangatira is in but I have not seen anyone yet from her. The Luna will probably be here by the morning if there is any further news I will write by her. Always, Yours very truly, J. D. Ormond