Napier Novr, 30th, 1870 My dear McLean, You will only get a hurried line from me by this opportunity as I have been continually interrupted this morning and the Ashley goes on at once. I read. your long letter of the 17th Novr. and see the course you have decided to take respecting Te Kooti. I hope it may prove the right one but if it does I shall esteem you as especially fortunate. By the Ashley I hear from Poverty Bay that a false alarm of Te Kooti had just taken place at Tokomaru which took all the natives who were at Gisborne attending the Land Court off to their places. It turned out to be entirely without foundation and the Natives are now reassembling for the Court. Still it shews that state of uncertainty they are in and will continue in so long as that miscreant is at large. I am glad you agree to my notion of getting Whenuanui, Paerau and people down here. They are better here than at Wairoa or Mahia and old Tareha is very anxious to have them. The miserable funk sticks at the Wairoa are writing letters to the newspapers saying the Urewera are gathering there previous to a renewal of attack upon the settlement. Bringing them here will end all that and cut them off from any intercourse with Te Kooti or others disaffected at Rua Tahuna. Perhaps Te Waru may be got in through them I will see what they say. The Poverty Bay people are very noisy about your sending Ropata and his men there. Ngatiporou are not liked at Gisborne - They have full particulars of what you wrote me as to your arrangements with Ropata and they are fully talked of here. This must have come from either Ropata or Porter as of course no soul has heard anything from me. What is said is that you have decided Te Kooti is to remain at large and that no further steps will be taken for his capture or that of any other murderers. I give it you as it has come from Poverty Bay. At Taupo the road work is going on all right. Ngatiraukawa have been constantly communicating with me asking for work on the Niho o te Kiore road and I have told Bold to lay it off and let it to them. We shall see directly whether they are in earnest. The Rotorua natives Ngati Whakahue declined to take piece work and want daily pay - they were to have done the road from Rotorua to Niho o te Kiore. I expect they will soon accept the terms offered them - at any rate we could not commence daily pay system on the roads. I find the Arawa very greedy and very little under control. The Orakeikorako natives Master Hoani & Co have refused work they are a bad lot. Old Poihipi is very sore about some land at Niho o te Kiore being awarded by N. L. Court to Ngatiraukawa. I have sent on a letter from him asking a re-hearing. You should look at what he says. His complaint is that He the stannch friend is put on one side and our opponents rewarded. Some notice had better be taken of his letter. At last I have got the Constabulary to work and Roberts informs me six ty men a day will be available. I should like the returns I suggested to be made out and sent up we shall get nothing out of them without some check. I telegraphed you about St. John being sent by Gisborne to inspect and report on Taupo Roads it was very ill-judged the work is going on well, and every care is being taken. I have got Bold interested in his work and taking pride in it and then a silly order like that is given which, would if carried out have disgusted all parties. Moreover St. John is not the kind of man to send where Road works, require carefuly watching from native complications. I have got St. John off now to report on Ngatiporou Roads and Gisborne to Wairoa by Te Reinga when that is done you must arrange for his going somewhere else not to Taupo. I congratulate you on settling Manawatu question it is a difficult and mischievous question got rid of and does you credit. Also Vogels new mail contract is a very creditable arrangement. He has done more than people expected and will receive great credit for it and deserves it. I have written him asking him to remember his promise to let the Mail Steamer call at Napier to land and receive Mails. One hour would do each way. Please see to it. We are still having splendid weather the country never looked so beautiful. I must close mail off. Yours very truly, J. D. Ormond. Your Election is all right you need not bother about it. J. D. O.