badly wanted. Ropata has been with me most of this evening and is gone to take his men to Wairoa. For the first time since he has been hunting Te Kooti he is sanguine of success. If as I hope he will, he moves quickly on the Lake, he will have a good chance of catching T.K. I am advising you by Telegraph of all this so I need not say more. Ropata was very keen to be allowed to go this time, and Porter tells me both Ropata and the men would have been much disaffected if they had not been sent. It is late and I must close for tonight. If there is anything more before the mail goes I will add a line. Yours always J.D. Ormond