Wellington Sept. 16th/65 My dear McLean, As I expect you by the Steamer on Saturday I shall say little to you. The last intelligence from you was not favorable and doubtless if you find things do not improve you will not be able to leave. The Ladybird came in this evening she brings word of the landing of the Opotiki force. The Huntress had been run ashore, it is believed treacherously by that scoundrel Capt. Levy of Grace notoriety. She had been got off again but had broken her steam pipe. She was in the river and was being repaired by the Engineers of the Man at War, and was nearly ready for work again - Our Forces had before the Ladybird left attacked the Natives, killed 13 of them (bodies found) and the rebels had bolted. That in a few words conveys the news from Opotiki which you will probably have heard before. Whitmore returns tomorrow to fetch his wife. He is suspended for resuming his duties as Civil Commissioner. I thought it necessary to have this done as any interference at such a time as this would have been most diaastrous. The office will be done away with when the Estimates come in and half the useless R. Ms in the Country will be struck off also. I shall be glad to see it. Richmond has promised me to send an order in respect to the refund of the Waipawa £800 and Troops and also the Defence advances by this Steamer I will see in the morning if it has been done. Tomarrow Stafford moves a Resolution in respect to Finance which you will see a notice of in the Papers. If he succeeds in carrying his Motion which is likely - of course we shall have a dissolution at once. The division will be a very close one - no one knows which way it will go. I should not be surprised if I be on my way home by the 26th after all. I think the sooner the better for the Govt are not strong enough to carry on and the best thing that can be done will be to dissolve at once and appeal to the Country. It will come to that sooner or later and this is allwaste of time. Barabbas has completely gone over to Auckland. I hear he is promised an Auckland constituency by Russell and he is his devoted servant and bottle holder. I hear it hinted by Auckland men that Barabbas is likely to turn traitor when the annexation (of Poverty Bay) question comes on. I want you down to help me in that - you can get some of the Otago Scotch men and with that help we shall I hope get a Bill through the House. I have drawn up a Mem. in the subject which is signed by all the Hawkes Bay Members except Colenso who has it now in his hands to consider I will enclose you the draft of it and you can have it published if you like. It is to be submitted to Govt. and there is no doubt we shall get their help I believe. Of course Colenso having openly joined the opposition weakens us somewhat with the govt. but I promise them better things for the future. I shant write more as I expect you here almost immediately. Yours always, J. D. Ormond Barabbas has signed my mem. about annexation. Tell Mr. Fitzgerald I have his note all right. I have no time to write him. Dont interfere with my arrangements disposing of little Whitmore. I have not quarelled with him at all about it on the contrary. I shall if you dont come down try and get a Company of soldiers sent up to occupy the Wairoa stockade. It wd. be a good move and increase our chance of selling. You had better write Grey about this if you dont come. I think the chances are I shall be back on the 26th. It is all chance however.