Napier May 8th. 1870. My dear McLean, When I closed my letter to you yesterday evening, they told me the ''Ashley'' was coming in. She has made, however, a very bad passage, and has only just landed the old Judge after a forty hours = knocking about. The delay enables me to give you some news which has come to hand to-day by the ''Murewai'' from Poverty Bay. I have letters from Locke and Ropata. The latter left for Owheta (Tamihana's Pa) on Wednesday; and on Thursday morning got clear of the Bay district. Ropata has taken 440 men with him, and means business. He knows of the different plans of which I have advised you, and writes that if the others carry out their share as he will his, that this will be the end of the Urewera. His plan is to march to Te Reinga; from there, make for the Northern end of the Lake, and thence round the back of it. He expects to get the Ngatikowhata between the Lake and Te Reinga; and says if they come in and give themselves up to him that he will save them. But he will kill any of Kooti's or Te Waru's people that he catches. His movements from the Lake will depend upon the enemy. If he catches them at the Lake he will come down to Wairoa, and asks to be taken back to his settlements by the ''St. Kilda''. Should the enemy retreat to Rua Tahuna he will follow him, and come out at Taupo. He writes:- ''Whichever way Kooti goes, I shall follow him.'' Altogether I am very pleased with what is going on. The arrangements are all working into one another, and I am more hopeful than ever of being rewarded by success. I cannot get any information as to Te Kooti's whereabouts, except that that came from Captain Walker, of Opotiki, to Mr. Porter, and which said Kooti was at Waikaremoana. I almost incline to think Kooti is still at Wai-o-eka; and trust St. John has acted on his instructions, and hunted that district. A good deal depends upon whether this has been done. If it has, and been done properly, I do not see how Kooti can escape the different Expeditions that are closing in on him. I have, however, very little faith in the Bay of Plenty Officials. There is a want of vigor and earnestness there that disgusts me. I send you, with this, a lot of Maori letters from Houkamau, Mohi, Tarei, and Ropata - mostly about powder. This is Sunday, and of course I have no in- -terpreter, but I can read Maori well enough to see what is in them. Mohi writes that they believe Kooti is at Waikaremoana. I hope he may be. If he is he is near his end. In case you should know nothing has been done yet from Opotiki, pray try and get a move made at once. There would yet be time to make a dash from there, which would be almost simultaneous with what is being done at this end. The ''St. Kilda'' is to call at Opotiki on her way back, so I shall hear probably to-morrow what is being done. Roberts is all ready at Taupo to make his dash, and at Ahikerereu, and Rua Tahuna; but Mair has not yet been heard from. If they start next Wednesday they will be in plenty of time. I must finish. The steamer is about to start again. Always yours very sincerely (Signed) J.D. Ormond. May 8th. noon.