Napier March 6th 1872 My dear McLean The Nebraska has only just been discovered and as she is close she will be off quickly so I have only time for a hurried line - Since I wrote last the enemy have been unusually active - Yesterday they had a meeting at Poukawa the object was to get some Deed from Hapuku Arihi and others - H. Russell told Samuel Williams lately that the natives should repudiate everything they could and that Ngaterawa and Raukawa especially should be contested - They are evidently working to get Hapuku into their hands again - It is a pity you cannot come here for a time as you could stop that - Locke at my desire has sent for Hapuku but the enemy are keeping a tight rein upon him - Buchanan I have seen since Hart wrote he will contest the Superintendency with Rhodes if I give it up He professes to be on our side but I did not say much one way or the other - I still think I had better remain at Hawkes Bay and give up Public Works - Every day shows me the work cannot be properly done from here. Gisborne has just made a lot of arrangements disposing of Carruthers' time when in my opinion he ought to be differently employed - Kinross knows about Russell's action in Raukawa and waits Hapuku's arrival here - The enemy have found out that some of the Grantees in some cases were not of age when they signed the Deeds - About the libel case there has been a great deal of fuss since I last wrote but I think it will be arranged if a guarrantee can be got to the extent of abt.£200 for expenses in case the case shd. be lost - Kinross and I will do this if you will join say yes or no by Telegraph. There is no other especial news and I must close. Yours always J.D.Ormond