Wallingford Jany. 15th, 1869 My dear McLean, I did not write before as up to the last hour or two I thought I could get away to Napier this week. I find I shall have now to wait until after Tuesdday's mail comes in but I shall be down certain some time next week. I have no news from the West Coast side to give you - all seems quiet there at least in the neighborhood we are especially interested in. I enclose you one of the reports of Scout Corporal Raymond - his idea of bounceable natives '' is something splendid. I was as glad as you to receive the news of the taking of Ngatapa, it is very absurd to keep back the details from the public. My notion is that Ngatiporou butchered the lot and that the object is to keep this secret. There is a report today that Kooti is taken - if so I conclude it will be by Ngatiporou who with Ropata were you advised me following him up. Of course little Whitmore will make great things of the Ngatapa success. We have the natives however to thank for first smashing the enemy and making him the easy prey for Whitmore which he lately proved. But for Ngatiporou, whom Ministers wanted to disarm, we should have been in a very different position to what we are now upon the East Coast. I shall be anxious to hear the particulars if Kooti and party are really taken. Do you hear anything now as to Govt. intentions with regard to dissolution. Some letters of mine from the South say that Stafford does not mean to dissolve, but will call the Assembly together in May and then when he is beaten, as is certain, will try to dissolve. This plan wd. allow him to retain office a little longer than any other, but it is almost too shamefully unscrupulous even for Stafford. I hear that Lord Henry who is in constant communication with Stafford is working away against me and that he has only just begun - he has formed an alliance with Gussey Carlyon for the object of opposing me. I do not think from what I hear that His Lordships canvass has as yet been very successful. Still the fact of his moving in the matter looks as though he had heard from Stafford that a dissolution was coming. The fool the other day when the news of the Ngatapa victory reached Waipukerau was in excstacies about the great commanders success, stood drinks at the public and so on. I hear also that at Waipawa he did the same. I have no other news, and am always, Yours very sincerely, J. D. Ormond