Napier June 10th 1872 My dear McLean, I have a great deal I should like to write you about but very little time to do so in. The Nebraska is coming in and will be off again at once. I have been so busy of late with the Provincial Council to attend to, in addition to other work that I have had no time at all for correspondence The Council work so far has gone on quietly but unfortunately the last sitting day Rhodes made an attack on Buchanan which has caused the latter to vacate I have not time to write as I wd. my view of how best to meet the difficulties of the position. Our best natives those who are doing their utmost to defeat what is going on, say an enquiry into the past ought to take place. The question is how can such an enquiry into transactions past and having respect perhaps in many cases to properties passed through many hands be allowed. I believe it would as a matter of justice be fair and wd. if announced go far to meet and stop the difficulties of the present position - how far it is legally possible is more than I can say. I must close or I shall lose the mail I am afraid I have not very well connected my ideas but you will at any rate gather an outline of the position and depend upon it I am not exaggerating the chances of serious difficulties occurring. Whittaker's opinion on such a question as is raised wd. be of very great value he wd. take a practical as well as a legal view - mail closing yours always, J. D. Ormond the Speakership and I understand he means to be troublesome. I dont know that he will annoy me but he will delay business. I am afraid the Council will last nearly if not quite another fortnight. You will be sorry to hear the repudiation of land agreements is still exciting the entire attention of the natives. Meetings continue to be held and the Natives generally are in a very excited state. On Thursday a meeting was held at Paki Paki which was largely attended. At the conclusion of which the natives stripped naked to perform their haka. I am told this is a bad sign you will know if it is. H. Russell went into the meeting and made a speech. I believe the Speech as he has sent it to the Papers is well enough but very different in tone and spirit to what he and his brother are privately instilling into the natives. Henare Tomoana who was at the meeting behaved very well. I think what he said will be published with Russell's speech and I will take care a copy goes to you herewith. I have not yet seen this morning 's paper. The account I heard of Henare's behaviour and speech was very good and he completely shut Russell up for the time. Karaitiana - Noa and Renata we all staunch and working well but they tell me privately that they cannot hold their people who are enticed by the bait of the promise Russell has circulated among them that they will get back all their land. Of course as we knew, many of the natives have been cheated out of their land and all are ready to get it back if they can, and seemingly they really think they will get it back and are proportionally elated. From all quarters I hear the same account that the natives have stopped all work and are giving their whole time and attention to this land repudiation question. A day or two previous to the Paki Paki meeting a meeting was held at Potangata at which they talked openly of their plans. First they were to swear away recent transactions and then having succeeded with that class of holdings they were to attack the old purchases and upset them. You will see from this that the spirit those scoundrels the Russells have evoked is getting far beyond their contrl I am inclined to believe it is getting beyond the control of the chiefs and is likely to end in absolute collision before we have done with it. The truth is that the repudiation party have the entire support of all the natives South of the Paki Paki right down to Wairarapa the Russells through Henare Matua are working them. Some trifling occurrences in the R. M. Court lately have assisted in causing the natives to believe Russell and his Lawyer Lascelles can succeed in what they undertake. Several actions for recovery of moneys due by Natives to Europeans were defeated last week by Lascelles on technical poijnts - again the Natives who disturbed the peace at West Clive hotel got clear off because at the time I was negotiating with the chiefs as to a settlement and no sufficient action was taken in consequence in Court to get a conviction - this of course is put down to the credit of Russell and his Lawyer and the Natives are beginning to believe they can succeed in almost anything. Respecting this Clive case the chiefs have refused to interfere or pay for the damage and the consequence will be that a lot of natives will go to Gaol probably Watene and Hapuku's other son among them. There is no help for it - instead of being submissive and pleading for consideration - these people through Lascelles defy a judgment again in the Heretaunga case. Turton has for several days had a Court enquiring into Russell's lease from Alice - very great interest has been taken in the case - large numbers of natives have been in attendance and also Europeans in fact the place has been crowded - strange to say Wilson has been acting against Russell. The native view of the case is that this is the first repudiation act and that if successful all the rest will follow. I have carefully avoided being seen of heard of in the matter because I am interested - but I am told Turton is silly enough to have said that because he was accused of having given judgment in some cases you were interested in because you were a Minister he will shew in this case he is impartial. My belief is that he is afraid of H. Russell and I think he will perhaps allow his Deed altho' the effect will be most mischievous and the granting a certificate will he a direct approval of what the evidence taken shews to bea most iniquitous fraud. You will see the evidence - the paper and can judge. Should he do as is expected - it will have a very bad effect and heaps of similar frauds will be attempted however - whatever comes of the last instance I have given you will see that enough has been done to largely increase Russell's influence for mischief - Lascelles has the gift of talk to any extent. He is a flashy indiscreet person I think but useful enough for such a purpose as Russell is using him. I have told you of all these points which are telling infavour of Russell with the natives that you may realise how he is making way. You will yourself be able to judge how far his influence and the cause he derives it from will enable him to work mischief. On the opposite side nearly the whole European population is engaged and strong feeling is excited country settlers by the dozen have thronged Turton's court during the last enquiry. The settlers say simply this - that the first attempt by the Natives to take any action to assume rights to lands parted with will be met by force and I believe it will - on the other hand Russell and Lascelles give out that they intend in any case in which they can assert the interest of one grantee - they will turn stock on the Run in which such interest exists and the Natives have it is said agreed to support such action by force. I feel sure collision will be the immediate result and that it may be of a very serious character. What can we do to stop it I cannot see as the proceedings may moreor less be sanctioned by Law.