Napier May 3rd 1870 My dear McLean - I have not time to write you at any length, somehow my work seems to increase instead of diminish and just now what with the operations in progress and attending to the matters for the Provincial Council which meets on the 18th of the month, I have almost more than I can manage - I have sent you officially full information as to what is going on in the way of war operations and I hope this move on Waikaremoana will be a success. I do not doubt it if they only wait for Ropata, and the Wairoa's are such curs that I have little fear of over bravery or push on their part. Witty and the Mohaka's I am more anxious about but the movement they are trying to carry out will take quite time enough for Ropata to be up before they are near Tiki-tiki - As you will see I have directed Hamlin to support Witty all he can and I think if the weather will only keep favorable we have a good chance of dealing another crushing blow before the winter sets in - That information gathered from the Ngatiwhare the other day by Mair showed that as long as Kooti is at large so long shall we have constant provision to make against surprise - I believe the wretch is at Waikaremoana and hope it may prove so - I think you will approve all that is being done and if we are successful it will still further strengthen the position of the Govt. in the coming Session - There is a great change in public opinion since the last success and I fancy the opposition have little chance - That little sweep Whitmore gives out that Stafford is going in for a dissolution but I shd. think if that were Stafford's tactics he wd. scarcely make W. his confidant - It appears he made all the mischief he could with Kemp on his way to Wellington with the prisoners. - By chance the little wretch turnedup at Castle Point whilst the Star was wind bound there and went on in the Steamer with Kemp - His story is that Kemp did the whole business behind Opotiki and that Ropata never saw the enemy at all - He tells a story also which he says he got from Kemp that you begged Kemp to go in into the Bush again after Te Kooti and that Kemp told you he was tired of working to keep you in office - a likely story - still it is the style of the little wretch - who gets more malignant the less chance he sees of anything turning up for himself - Old Wilson has expressed his opinion lately that Whitmore is doing more harm than good and that there is no denying things are going on well - What is being done about Curlings business There is no doubt I conclude about dispensing with him - everyone expects it and it wd. be much resented by all the respectable portion of the community if it were otherwise - There is some inconvenience arising from the want of an R. M. to act and I am thinking of trying to get old 'Anderson' to act temporarily, if he will I shall get Gisborne to agree - I have had 2 or 3 deputations within the last few days urging that the public is suffering inconvenience. Do you not know of any good man in the North. He must be a lawyer and sufficiently respectable to be made District Judge as well as R. M. such an appointment will be a great public convenience - I want to hear from you soon about the Taupo Meeting when you can be there - You will find you will be able to do something at it - At any rate the West Taupo Natives will take that occasion to come in so Poihipi tells me - Also the Arawa pay question must be settled it will do harm soon unless it is - Fox is still in the south and gives a favorable account of the feeling there - Did you notice Rolleston in his Speech said he hoped present Govt. would be supported - I fancy he is going to win his election at Canterbury he had a majority of 500 in the town of Christchurch. The 40 mile bush purchase was partly concluded for a day or two ago, all except the piece abutting on Rua Tanewha. there is a hitch about that which will be got over - Master Grindell is at the bottom of it acting for Lord Henry - Locke says it will come all right - The natives received £150 in three sums of £50 each in three different blocks - the land agreed to be sold and which they have signed an undertaking to complete takes in all the 40 mile Bush from Wairarapa and the Manawatu purchases and to Puke Toi - the Block not yet arranged for is next Rua Tanewha - We have had splendid weather lately for the country altho' it has been wet for operations - I return you your Akitio overseer's letter I am trying to get the people here to agree to fence the Akitio boundary in place of Waimata - Of course you wd. have to do part of it but it wd. be a good thing for you - I conclude you are back from your visit to the north and hoping soon to hear from you. Always Yours very sincerely J.D. Ormond