Wallingford Novr. 7th 1866. My dear McLean Yours of the 3rd and 6th Novr. are to hand by todays mail, thank you for the information they contain - You had not of course then received my letter sent specially by the Waipawa policeman - I need not repeat anything I wrote you then - but continue from Monday's news which was what I sent you - Yesterday a special messenger arrived from Manawatu from Hirawanu's people - the enclosed is a copy of the letter the messenger brought. The messenger reports that the Wairarapa special 'Rawiri' (a man of Wi Waka's) came to Puhaetahi in one day from Wairarapa with the message he brought - and that he returned the following morning - He told the Manawatu Natives there was no question about the Poti coming, but the road they wd. take was not settled - The natives are in a considerable state of excitement, they speak positively about the coming All the Manawatu Natives have cleared their property out of their Pahs and planted it. They stay at Manawatu until definite news reaches them of the route the party is to take. Then they all come out here, to be out of the way if the Hau Hau's go thro the Bush, to be a support to these people if they come of Porangahau - That is the whole of the news that has reached me in addition to what I wrote you on Monday afternoon - From the news received today via Wellington and Napier one wd. think there was no chance of the beggars coming and yet we have now as late news from the people themselves thro' Manawatu - that they are coming - I dont understand them, they puzzle me - My common sense still makes me believe they wont come - the Natives themselves are positive that they will - At any rate you know as much as I do about the chances and can consider whether the plans I proposed are necessary or not - I see no harm in moving Frazer and his men up to Waipukereu - the expense will be little and he is then at hand if required - But I wrote you so fully of my idea of what was necessary in the way of preparation before, that I will not repeat it - As to the news pro and con altering the case I really dont know what to say - Of course if the Hau Hau's were like ordinary people they would not come. What they may do under the influence of their fanaticism no one can tell - Why shd. they keep sending messengers into this District if they had given up the idea of coming here - The Hui of Rangitane referred to in Hohepa's letter was at the request of old 'Ritimona' of Ruamahunga, a good old fellow who you remember, who is staunch and wont join the Hau Hau's - He sent for Rangitane to protect him - the party gone are Honi Mahana's people - I told you in my last I had had to employ the messenger I sent on Monday last to Wairarapa - He will bring back some definite intelligence - I am sorry to say that a great deal of alarm is getting up in this neighborhood. The Mr. Hunters I am told are going to send their wives and families to Wellington - and others besides are getting alarmed - I had an official request from Messrs. Canning and Russell yesterday to supply them with arms and ammunition as they and their men were defenceless - There was nothing of this kind here until Williams came down the other day and I fear he has alarmed the neighbourhood - He told me he thought I scarcely paid sufficient attention to the information I recd. - I have done my best to quieten people again - and I trust no silly panic will take place - Yesterday some of the Wainui settlers came here to see me - I told them I myself did not believe the Hau Hau's wd. come - that if they did - they might be well behaved - but that it was impossible to say - I found on enquiry from them that there are 46 White people at Wainui and Tautane of whom 19 are men the rest women and children - I told them if the Hau Hau's did come that they cd. receive no additional protection - but that I thought the best thing they cd. do wd. be in such case to assemble at one place for protecting each other - and stay quiet till the party passed - or as they seemed themselves to think well of - to go into the Bush (outstations behind) until the party passed. I promised them ample warning of any movement and sent them home in good heart and satisfied. I gave them some ammunition from that sent me (Rifles they had) - but only for use for self protection. How people get dotted over the Province - who wd. have thought there were 46 white beings at Wainui - I have given you all my news and told you all I have done you will hear from me speedily if I have any news to give you. Yours always J.D. Ormond Please make the messenger find a pair of silver racing spurs that I left in your office hung on the corner of the large mounted map that stood there - they belong to Mr. Harris - I am certain I left them there, on the Saturday as I left on the Monday - Richardson has asked about them but they cant be found - Find out what kind of Rams you are getting from St. Hill he purchased 2 years ago a lot of rips from Kereru from Herrick and other people - if you are getting them you will repent it. It may be all right and the Rams not those I refer to - but you had better enquire I am tired and it is late - J.D.O.