Napier, April 12th, 1871 My dear McLean I am going to Poverty Bay by the Napier and leave this for any chance that may offer during my absence - The road works at Povery are all laid out and I go to see what is to be done and open tenders which have been called for and start the work. You will have heard by the West Coast that Ropata had not succeeded in catching Te Kooti and that Porter was here - as I send full particulars in the officials I need not repeat - Ropata was trying the country around "Te Haupapa" when Porter left him and there was a possibility of his finding him at some place where he was said to be tattooing -However I fear there is little chance - the wretch gets too good information of our movements - Ropata believes the Wairoa people sent Kooti word this time and I fear there is little doubt of it - Porter tells me the prisoners say the Wairoa's have lately supplied Kooti with what he wanted and received bank notes in return - in one letter found among Kooti's things there is a list of articles sent Kooti by Hapimana which includes some "hingaras" I will enquire into this at Poverty Bay. It is no wonder the wretch escapes us if he is assisted in this way. Today old Tareha was with me and when I told Tareha was not taken - He said of course not, we the Maories all know he never will be, his God will take care of that - I was very much struck with the earnest way old Tareha said this - I got him to write to the Urewera confirming them in what they are doing and I also wrote them and send you officially a copy of my letter - Whether they may do as I propose and hand Kooti over, is very doubtful, I think they are too much afraid of him - I knew I was quite safe in promising what I have done in case they did. Since I wrote last Locke has met the Natives about the purchase of the Bush (70 Mile) and to my very great disappointment utterly failed in doing anything - The weather was very bad and Takapou is not a nice place and altogether there was a break down - Locke is a capital man to smooth down difficulties - but wants vigour - He thinks no persistence would have made any difference - but I do - He did get from the Natives an acknowledgment of advances - cost of survey to the extent of £1200 which they agree is a first charge in the land - They still persist the land is sold to the Govt. but they question the price - This unexpected termination has upset all my plans - There is no chance of the Railway without the Bush to offer s security. It wd. be useless asking the Assembly to consider it - And now the difficulty is to do anything before the Assembly meets - I have thought it over in all ways and as we must make an effort to settle it I propose to take advantage of your visit here to endeavour to get together another Meeting and try it - under ordinary circumstances I would not press the matter but as you know if we are not able to press our claim this Session it is a poor look-out for us. My proposal is this that you write to Peeti - Huru and Hoani Maihana, the last is the most influential of the three, to meet you here and I wd. recommend that it be about general matters as if it was believed to be for the Bush purchase only - Karaitiana might hear of it and stop them -The other claimants can be got up quickly from here after your arrival and I have hopes that you may be able to manage; of course we must raise the price a little and with that from you I think it may be done. The old fellows are the bottom of the opposition but they can be worked through old Hirawanu's promise to sell which they do not deny - Please do not omit to write Peeti and Co. and if they came by steamer so much the better. They are all right and all eager to sell and wd. be a great help in the matter. I am not sure about Karaitiana he is a cunning beggar - Locke thinks he is all right but I have doubts and believe that if he chose he could settle it -The question is of such enormous importance to our Province that no stone must be left unturned to endeavour to conclude it - Colenso is interested I fancy in the sale as some of the Natives owe him money - he volunteered help and told me it was no use pressing the matter further through Locke - but that if you took it up he believed it could be done - of course I thanked him and told him I should be glad of his help - Let me know as soon as you can when you expect to be here so that I may arrange as fr as possible accordingly - At Poverty Bay I shall see Ropata and arrange about his prisoners, my notion is to take a few of the worst of them and hand remainder over to Ropata - About Renata Hamuhamu Porter tells me Ropata cares nothing now but I will see - There is little doubt but that Ropata's expedition has prevented a raid in Poverty Bay which Te Kooti had planned - if the expedition has done nothing else it has prevented that and any disaster of that kind would have been ruinous at home - I should hope T.K. is settled for this winter but much depends on the Urewera - I shall have them net as soon as they are assembled and believe we may manage them successfully - About Mangateretere you will be here before the money has to be paid - Hart sent me form of notice to serve on Karaitiana and others calling on them to take legal steps if they desired to bar Suttons receiving the money - I had the notice translated and served - That is all I have to say this time hoping to see you soon Yours always J.D. Ormond.