Napier April 15th 1875 My dear McLean From your telegram received last evening I learn you are at Poverty Bay and as I expected you will be detained there a few days - I did not wire you by the return orderly as the Rangatira with this will probably reach Gisborne first - Locke goes by the Rangatira I thought it best for him to go as he may be useful to you - I am very glad to see from your telegram that you have been able to leave matters in a satisfactory state in the Bay of Plenty you must have had a difficult and arduous task there - I wired Pollen this morning telling him your whereabouts and of the opportunity the Rangatira offers of communicating with you - There is not a great deal to tell you of from here - no very active steps have yet been taken in the native cases - Sheehan is here but I think does not see his way as clearly as he could wish - The only cases in which actual proceedings have been commenced are - Heretaunga and Mangateretere. I am told of two or three other cases ready including Kinross' Raukawa, as far as I can judge it is very doubtful whether any case except perhaps Mangateretere will come on at the next sittings of the Supreme Court - And as far as I can do so I am working for delay - It appears to me that if we can check the proposed proceedings that the natives will tire of it - There is another and rather amusing circumstance in connection with Sheehan's proceedings - He has seen of course Reid's appointment as ''Solicitor General'' and he takes it for granted that this means an Attorney General in Parliament, as probably it does. At any rate I suggested this to him and I think it is working. He is very vain altho' pretty shrewd and he will be to a certain extent careful in what he does, for he without doubt has his eye up the possible Attorney Generalship - He is very civil and often comes in for a chat - From what he says I gather that Grey is thought no end of at Auckland, and there is no doubt that he means to be as mischievous as he can. He has also shown a good deal of tact in the choice of subjects. The constitution of the Legislative Council is a question that will have to be talked out if brought on - and with other things he has mooted will be awkward to deal with in view of the approaching general election. I will tell you more of what I have gahered from Sheehan when we meet - Do you notice that Grey has singled out the Native land purchase operations - I wired you my opinion the other day about postponing the session until August - From letters from the South I find the rumour is going about there - All my letters say it would be a great mistake and I think so also. You will have this next Session more trouble than has been the case of late - Grey will be able to force the taking up any question he brings forward - this will take time and our side is composed chiefly of men who will not stay in Wellington after September or October at latest. I hope it will not be necessary to put it off beyond July - Vogel can easily get back in time from there. I will not write more as you will be here so soon - Locke will give you all the local news - Yours always J.D. Ormond