Napier August 6th, 1871 My dear McLean, The Ashley is due in the morning and I have lots to write you about but little time to do so in. The confounded Bush purchase is still dragging on but we are gaining ground daily, it is terrible wearisome work though I fancy it will be finished all right at the Waipawa Meeting on Tuesday. That scamp Karaitiana is at the bottom of all the mischief I think he fears when this purchase is concluded he will lose his influence over those Natives who form a large section of his party. Purvis Russell is working hard against us but I dont think Lord Henry has been lately. They hate us so much that even success in a matter they are so largely interested in is gall and wormwood to them - they are two infernal sweeps of that there is no doubt. I advised you by Telegram Wilson had served a notice of action for libel on the Herald for the article about Hapuku's Trust Deed etc. It is not believed they will dare go on with the case as the exposure of Lord Henry and Wilson wd. be so disgraceful to them - still they threaten to do so. When Carlile told me he had reed. the notice I told him he could withdraw the article if he and his partners liked and so escape the risk of loss in the action. They decided however to go on with it at any cost and they will receive considerable money support from our friends. I have put my name down for Fifty Pounds (if it shd. be required) The Bishop of Waiapu gives, The Russells and many others so that I hope it will not come hard on the Paper. You will I know help, let me know what - Gordon Allen has been retained by the Herald - Maddock is preparing pleas but he is a poor hand I think. The object of Wilson is to try and get the case on at Wellington whilst the Assembly is sitting. He was indiscreet enough to say to one who repeated it to me, that in the action he did not care a pin for the Paper, or me, but what he wanted was to have you in the witness box and go into your Ngatarawa and Mangateretere transactions that he wd. prove the Parties you had dealings with had received large sums from Govt. at the time you were transacting your private business - and a lot more of the same kind of rubbish. However the case must be tried here if we can manage it - and as both Plaintiff, Defendants and Witnesses reside here I should think the Judge wd. never allow it to be taken to Wellington as the cost wd. be enormously increased thereby. Prendergast is I believe retained by Wilson - I wish you wd. see Gordon Allen and encourage him in the business - he will be fully instructed as to the facts of the case and I can supply whatever further information he requires when I am Wellington. Maddock is leaving here shortly so that the whole case will be in Allen's hands. Maddock has made a horrid mess of the Hapuku Trust Deed so much so that we are put to a lot of trouble to prevent Hapuku being made a Bankrupt and his affairs falling into the hands of Wilson - Sutton and Co. I am writing officially on the subject please have my letter thereon looked at immediately as prompt action is required to frustrate Wilson's applications to the Judge for having Hapuku made Bankrupt. In this case again they are working more against you than anything else. They want to have Hapuku bankrupt, as then, Sutton wd. come in before you for your Ngatarawa purchases. It appears he got the better of Maddock that time in registering Deeds and got his on first - It is fearfully disgusting all this, but the wretches are active and stop at nothing - That rascally newspaper correspondence which Sutton kept going so long is at last dropped but the Paper is still very unreliable - One day it has a strong favorable article, the next it goes in hot and strong against and so it goes on. The only thing it is consistent on is in abuse of Fox whose total abstinence principles are not believed in. The shareholders of the paper have a meeting on the 14th and it is reputed the Waipukerau Russells and Wilson have offered to take a good lot of shares if the Paper will take their side. The present directors tell me their offer will not be accepted as it is certain if the Russells were known to have anything to do with the Paper, that wd. settle it - I dont fall out altogether with the Telegraph in the meantime so that I may not lose a chance of putting things straight. I have just looked over your last letter there is not much needing reply. About the Taupo to Cambridge Mail I think it had better stop at any rate until the Assembly is over, if it were going on it wd. require constant watching and it is best to have nothing going on likely to give trouble whilst the Session lasts. In the Spring I think we can carry it through. I am quite sure the Te Whetu meeting did good and will yet bear fruit. In my correspondence which I carefully keep up with Ngatiraukawa and Taupo I keep alive that question of the King keeping the West bank of the Waikato and leaving the East bank to us and it is being seriously discussed. The Taupo Natives are in great fear of Te Kooti, that wretch has as much power over them as ever he had and would play mischief if he got back to Waikato. I am glad to find that Matuaha and the West Taupo natives, have at once, on hearing T.K. was likely to make their way, gone to Tokano and put themselves under Hare Tauteka - this is a sure sign they are reliable. I send you by this mail the account of Maddock's that was sent up to be taxed. I had some trouble to get him to go on with Hapuku's case. There is no doubt the charges are excessive but under the circumstances there was no help for it - He is going away from here at once, it seems there is some woman he wants to rejoin and who he could not bring to a little place like this without exposure. He is not much of a Lawyer I think - I wish to goodness we could get a good man here, one is badly wanted. Ropata has been with me most of this evening and is gone to take his men to Wairoa. For the first time since he has been hunting Te Kooti he is sanguine of success. If as I hope he will, he moves quickly on the Lake, he will have a good chance of catching T.K. I am advising you by Telegraph of all this so I need not say more. Ropata was very keen to be allowed to go this time, and Porter tells me both Ropata and the men would have been much disaffected if they had not been sent. It is late and I must close for tonight. If there is anything more before the mail goes I will add a line. Yours always J.D. Ormond