Auckland May 30/71 My dear McLean I send you Puckey's last message to Kemp. The mail business has failed as I feared it would and Hopihaua has come back after all his bounce with his tail between his legs. I am very sorry for all this but it can't be helped now. Puckey had become quite pugnacious in mild fashion but there are just two ways of dealing with such a difficulty as Old Te Hira and his sister present, one is force, declared and upstanding, and the other is total abstention from interference. If we could only let the ancient couple alone, severely, for six months I am inclined to believe even now that they would surrender everything in disgust. I have reason to believe that it might be possible to get a mail, or even the wire itself, over by Hikutaia to Wangamata and thence by the Coast to Katikati After the English mail comes in I will go to the Thames myself and feel about for a "soft" place. John White has got a mare's nest at Waiuku which appears to bother him; but he likes to be in a good thick smoke. I send you a note received from him this morning. There is no sign as yet of the Nebraska. Jervis, Hale's agent has just told me that the N. S. Wales Govt. have given £15,000 to the Fiji line and that it is most probable that all the Australian colonies will come into the arrangement. Hall is however a sanguine man and does not stop at saying anything that is necessary for his purposes. Major Roberts had advice that money was placed to his credit for pay of his district, (Tauranga) and drew cheques on the Bank N Z for in favor of Preece and Mair for £490. 7. 2 and £326. 13. 6 both of which were dishonored. Roberts is here and I have arranged with the Bank for the payment of the cheques will you kindly telegraph to the Treasury about the remittance to the Bank in this case. There is nothing else in the way of news or Gossip, except that you are to be made a "Lord" and permanent Native Protector. Farmer the Golden, says he has netted £93,000 in the last rush and values the stock he still has at £25,000 That is something like a holiday. Compliments to Ormond. I would write but have nothing to ay. His Excy. is shooting and lunching all round very industriously. Says he will leave this on the 10th July. Yours very truly, Daniel Pollen