Napier, June 16th, 1873 My dear McLean, I wrote you a day or two ago by the Rangatira and have not much to add now. I see by your telegram just received that you are pleased with the new Governor so far as you have seen of him. Since I wrote last Henare Tomoana has refused to retract the statements he made and the case against him must of course go on. On Thursday I sent Locke out to Pakowhai to see him and upon that Karaitiana and Henare came in on Friday. I had a long talk with Karaitiana and Henare agreed with Locke he wd. take out the paper retracting what he had said and bring it in signed on Saturday morning - the day the case was fixed for. On Saturday morning he came in and said he had determined not to retract. I heard afterwards that on Friday night a letter came from Henry Russell telling them the Government was secretly at the bottom of the prosecution and not only that but that all the summonses and Writs against Natives now being issued were instigated by me. This it seems decided that natives against coming to terms and so the prosecution is going on. Tanner and the others absolutely refuse now to stop it unless Henare retracts and I think in their own interests they are bound to do so. I wd. give a good deal to get hold of H. R's letter - if I could I wd. prosecute the scoundrel. McHardy came to me on Saturday and told me of this letter from H. R. Also that H. R. and Sheehan are pressing Karaitiana to mortgage his different properties including your Run and Colemans. This however he will not do and it has been arranged that McHardy advances Karaitina £1000 on Pakowai and so for the present gets him out of pressing difficulties. My belief is that Russell and Co. are instigating the issue of the Writs to get K. forced into a Mortgage to them, but this shall not be done. Really it is sickening to have to work against the scoundfelism of these people. Old Reid of Pov. Bay declares it is true that Sheehan boasted to Wm. Swanson of the thriving business he had got into at Hawkes Bay - He called it a "Run". Old Reid's Maori woman was present and heard the whole talk. Reid says Swanson quite approved of Sheehan's roguery. Among other things Sheehan said the H. Bay natives were the most simple lot of fools he had ever had in his hands and that he meant to take it out of them. Of course Karaitiana has heard all this and altogether the unfortunate Maories don't know which way to turn. McGregor from Dunedin is here and will report on the Breakwater he seems a smart fellow. Respecting Burton's land purchasing Commission I think you will find giving a roving commission like that will not work. The first thing it does is to give offence to the different district officers, for instance Locke who has worked very well at Taupo is by no means pleased at having some one sent there. Clarke will be sure to be the same at Tauranga and so on. My opinion is Burton is not up to the work. We are having magnificent weather - for a month past it has been like Spring and people are beginning to cry out for Rain. The Council is going quietly but slowly is Burton is not up to the work. We are having magnificent weather - for a month past it has been like spring and people are beginning to cry out for Rain. The Council is going quietly but slowly the fact is the Country members want their holiday and will have it and will spin the work out accordingly. I shd. like them to get on quicker and be done with but at any rate they are not troublesome. Yours always, J. D. Ormond. Will you direct £20 to be remitted to Hamlin for Morena.