Napier April 16th 1873 My dear McLean - Yesterday I went off to see Vogel and heard from him what is doing - things are pretty much as I expected and I have nothing to add to what I have already written - Tancred Vogel told me had declined and he looks on Bowen of Canterbury as out of the question. We shall soon hear what Pollen says - I do not expect he will join - If he would and you could get John Johnston to help him in the Upper House that difficulty wd. be settled - The Bunny matter is another difficulty and a very nasty complication. I wd. not have believed Waterhouse wd. have done what he has - Unless you confirm what W has done of course you ensure Bunny's active opposition, whilst if you do it, you will lose the respect, as a Govt., of a large section of the House - It is very embarrassing - Your Run is I believe secure but without the last purchase it was anything but that - As to putting Henry Russell out of the Commission of the Peace - if it can be done it ought to be - doing it wd. have an excellent effect here and somewhat check the mischief he is doing. The scoundrel is most active and is working hard to keep the repudiation movement going - The natives were disheartened at the result of the Commission and would have settled down quietly had not this scoundrel thrown fresh fuel into the fire. The ground for dismissing him from the Commission of the Peace is - the decision of the Trust Commissioner in the Arihi case viz. "connivance and assistance in a Fraud" the exact words can be got from the reports in the Papers - Afterwards Judge Johnston supported Turton's decision - This matter was taken into consideration by the Leg. Council (though privately) and wd. have been publicly enquired into last Session had not H. pleaded the case was before the Supreme Court and so escaped - That might have been a proper excuse for the Govt. not taking action then but now that it is shown that no action in the Supreme Court has been taken it wd. be a proper course to put him off the Commission of the Peace - I hope you will move in it - It is quite true what you say about Wilson the only difficulty in getting rid of him is, there is no one else here whose professional opinion is worth having - any of the others wd. lead the Prov.Govt. into more messes than enough - I saw Tribe this morning but had nothing to offer him - he returns in the Luna - In case of a dissolution coming I should advise you to find something for John Curling - he is keeping very steady and has a great many friends in the place - he is the only man who I know of who could give you any trouble by contesting the Napier Seat. I dont mean he could get in but he could give a great deal of trouble and is a good hand on the Stump - Can you think of anything to suit him he has plenty of ability - The Paki Paki meeting came off yesterday and H.R. and Sheehan got all Pakehas and doubtful natives excluded - we shall have a report however of their going on presently - I need not write it as R.McLean will tell you. He went out there and was warned off by Sheehan. I think it was rather imprudent R.McLean going there as a handle will be made of it by Sheehan - I see what you say in your Telegram about the native officers being able to check the repudiation movement I cannot say what an officer new to the place might be able to do but certainly Locke and Hamlin can do nothing - Indeed the natives have a stronger feeling against them than against most Europeans in the place. I was asked to send Locke out yesterday to the Paki Paki meeting but if had he wd. have been insulted and no object gained - The new scheme of taking all the cases to the Supreme Court is a fine thing for that little blackguard Sheehan and will probably put all the Settlers who have acquired properly through the Native Land Court to great expense and trouble - The report is causing a good deal of stir among the Settlers and a general demand is being made that the Govt. shall step in a check what is going on. I dont see how we can - At the same time the effect is most mischievous - I received your telegram yesterday authorising me to contradict Sheehan's statement that you had influenced the sale of Heretaunga but I have not had time yet to use it but will do so tomorrow. That is all I have time to write - Waterhouse has just called - we did not refer to political matters - he is on his way to Auckland. I have ordered the Telegraph for you and they will send a file for the commencement of this month. Yours always J.D. Ormond P. S. The Paki Paki meeting was attended by all the Hawkes Bay Chiefs except Tareha - It was resolved to agitate from the East Cape to Wairarapa for another Commission with larger powers to enquire into all land complaints - Governmt. as well as Private - money is to be subscribed to pay the cost - £400 for Sheehan was voted but has yet to be collected. The second object of the natives of this League is to be to throw down the present Government - All the natives assented except the Wairoa's who declined to join in it. Wi Peri from Poverty Bay agreed and a meeting is to take place there soon - The League meets again in May at Waimarama - It will be well for you to write to Ropata and have Ngatiporou and also the Arawa put on their guard against the proposed combination. J.D.O.