Wallingford May 10th 1864 My dear McLean I am glad to get such good accounts of the recovery of your health. It is fortunate, as I am sure you want all your strength. The news by today's mail is to my mind anything but satisfactory - The Governments 'Hau Hau' proclamation is under existing circumstances a simple piece of Bounce - How are they going to punish 'Fanatics' when they are unable to check the progress of a bunch of murderers - I have grave doubts of the power of the Govt. to touch these 'Pai Marire's' so long as they do not break the law - Suppose for sake of example a party of 'Hau Hau's' resident anywhere in this Province were eized - They must of course be brought before the Judge as the administrator of the Law. I have no doubt myself but that the Judges of the Supreme Court wd. instantly order their discharge - But apart from this view, what I codemn is the threatening to do that which it is never intended shall be done, and which it is simply impossible can be done - That then is one of the matters that I consider bad news - The other is the avowal of Hapuku and Tareha's coalition and as I hear from my natives the almost certainty that exists that before long these Chiefs will assume aggressive operations against Renata and Karaitiana - My opinion is that if this result does occur that nothing can save us from being mixed up with the quarrel. Of course Hapuku and Tareha will both get assistance out of the Province - Once bring, or allow, such adherents as they wd. get to come here and war is inevitable. I go further than this in my opinion I say it will be disgraceful to us if we allow these savages to wage war upon each other in the midst of a settled District - If I were you I shd. make a representation to the Govt. of the facts relating to this case and call upon them to decide what shall be done if the peace of the District be broken. A little firmness - a distinct notice that Govt. whichever Party, or individual breaks the peace is in my opinion the attitude to assume - not only as being required for our own self respect - but also as being the most probably successful means of preventing the disaster occurring - Depend upon it your course is to force the Govt. to decide this point as to what is to be done. If they allow the natives to fight well and good let them bear the disgrace of it. But for the sake of your reputation dont be a party to it - I see what you say about the Provincial Council meeting - If the meeting be at the end of the month I shall be down in time for it - My reason for proposing to you to defer calling it together until about the first week in June was. That with the almost certainty of the Assembly meeting about the 18th or so of that month (I hear that is to be the day) we should be able to prevent drifting into a regular session - If you meet in May the Council , you will find, until such time as the Assembly's meeting gives a fair excuse for ending the Session. If you prefer a month's badgering to a week's all right - for my part I shd. prefer to take it all in one dose when we have the later Session. If you have not issued the notice you had better think this over - We ought also to have a week or two to prepare. There are a number of questions which you are pledged to give answers upon or take action in. There are the new Land Regulations - and other matters to see to - I hope to about the 24th but I do not think I can manage to get away before that time - You can let me hear by the Post what you decide upon. I cannot advise our taking over any great number of the surplus Immigrants. It is useless getting men unless you provide also persons with capital to settle among and employ them. Your letter to Govt. applying for the Regiment is all right, but I dont expect there is any chance of our getting them - Thanks for speaking to old Herewanu I recd. a letter from him by the Post in return to one I had sent him enquiring if he would let. The old fellow tells me in his letter he wont let, and to stay where I am. I suppose you have spoken to him lately - You might ask him which he means and let him write me accordingly. Unless he will be at Napier when I come down - which wd. be better - By the bye I had forgotten something - I gave an authority to Bousfield to cut up about 150 acres more Bush than Weber had arranged for - The reason was that the part of the Bush () he had directions to survey, turns out to be almost useless and will not more than half of it sell. The piece I have told him to cut up is the best of the Bush and will sell. We shall get a few hundred pounds out of the sale of this Bush - I shall be anxious to hear how things progress with you. It is late so good night. Always Yours very truly J. D. Ormond