Napier, April 12th, 1871 My dear McLean I am going to Poverty Bay by the Napier and leave this for any chance that may offer during my absence - The road works at Povery are all laid out and I go to see what is to be done and open tenders which have been called for and start the work. You will have heard by the West Coast that Ropata had not succeeded in catching Te Kooti and that Porter was here - as I send full particulars in the officials I need not repeat - Ropata was trying the country around "Te Haupapa" when Porter left him and there was a possibility of his finding him at some place where he was said to be tattooing -However I fear there is little chance - the wretch gets too good information of our movements - Ropata believes the Wairoa people sent Kooti word this time