Wallingford May 14th - 1868 My dear McLean, I reed. copy of your letter re Wellington Debt Interest, sent to the Col. Secretary. It is all right so far as it goes, but it does not I think sufficiently controvert Featherstone's statement. Of course the two letters will be published and presented to the House together, if you look again at Featherstone's letter you will find that you have allowed him to make inaccurate statements which you have not controverted - the result of course will be that any one reading the correspondence will say you had no case in which to question his statements and he will get the pull over you. It was from a knowledge of the use of going fully into the case that I noted the different points I did for you before leaving Napier. About the time for the Council Meeting I dont see that you can put off caling them together later than the 1st June and that date will give Carter and Weber ample time to get ready their accounts I dont know how I am to get my work up here finished in time but I will try. At any-rate you cant properly defer the Council's Meeting longer than the time I say and the sooner notice is given of it the better. Will you send me a copy of the Estimates and I will go over them and see what can be done in the way of re-arrangement. In advising with Carter as to his accts. it wd. be well for him to limit his advances to what can be accounted for by a little pre-arrangement He and Weber could have all their accounts ready and by Weber making his payments complete so far as he could a great deal of trouble could be avoided. Carter knows the different statements of Account that are always prepared for and laid before Council. There is no reason why they could not be ready for the Council in its Meeting or at any rate on a very early day after. There is another thing that really ought to be seen to. Those Standing Orders shd. be prepared to enable the Council to pass what is necessary to comply with the Compulsory Land taking Act. We have gone on for years without getting this done, altho' we have cases occurring constantly in which we have to pay thro' the nose because we cannot take advantage of the law. If you cant move Wilson himself to do it, suggest to him to get Ferrard to do it. It ought to be done by somebody of course it is Wilson's business. You got no doubt my letter saying I wanted Scully up here and I am hoping to have here tomorrow. Good night. Always, Yours faithfully, J. D. Ormond