Napier October 28/70 My dear McLean, I had a line from you by the Rangatira and now hear the Luna left Wellington this morning for Napier. I have very little news to give you. The Keera brings word that Vogel is safe to be elected for Auckland City East. Poor old J. Williamson is standing again which means of course that he gives up his office I shd. not think he could properly afford to do so. I understood he was quite destitute. According to the papers Gillies has withdrawn from contesting City West against Williamson and Dignan. Where will Gillies get in for will he go back to Wanganui. I am sorry to see a man named Kelly is trying for the East Coast district. You ought to stir yourself to get a proper man in for there. I am going to write Randall Johnstone asking him if he will not contest the election and proposing he shd. go and see the Tauranga people. Our Elections are all right the little Rush of opponents have felt their way as to the possibility of opposing us successfully and have given up the idea. I hear they intend to have a go in at the Hustings but I fancy I am quite able to meet them. I wanted to go to Poverty Bay and Wairoa this trip of the Luna but cannot possibly leave - she will be up this way again probably before long and I must try and go there. I want to start the Road works authorised and looking at the country wd. no doubt help the proper expenditure of the money. The Taupo meeting has not ended in very much Locke thinks he has done great things but I have doubts myself whether Ngatirakauwa will go at the road works. I hope they will and if they do we have to thank old Poihipi for working them round. The fact of the Ngatiraukawa coming to a Govt. meeting is by no means a bad sign. The West Taupo Natives also are quite altering their tone and with care I think this year will see things well advanced to a better state of things. This fresh row about the Telegraph is very annoying the fact is this Mr. Warbrick who acts for the Contractor is a drunken sweep who is quite unfit to be turned loose in a Maori district. From Poverty Bay I hear a very strong anti land selling feelings exists and that Ropata and the Ngatiporou are at the bottom of it. It is a great pity if that fine district is locked up. It is reported that at the approaching sitting of the Native Land Court the natives who have brought claims before Court will withdraw them. The European Settlers up there are very much disgusted at the line Ropata is taking in this and we shall have a nasty feeling engendered in that district. I fancy Karaitiana will be returned for the East Coast native district. He is canvassing the Orawa and Ngatiporou and says they have promised to support him. I have nothing else to tell you this time. Always, Yours very truly, J. D. Ormond Your last letter came unsealed, fortunately there was little in it. J. D. O.