Napier, February 18th, 1870. I go inland tomorrow to bring Mrs. Ormond back but shall keep up daily communication with Waipuku Telegraph and be back here in a few days. Everything will be started before I leave.J.D.O. My dear McLean, The Ashley leaves directly and I have lots to attend. Of course Fox goes on by her -- I have enjoyed very much the few days they have spent here but have not been able to make them as comfortable as I could have wished having almost no servants and Mrs. Ormond being absent at Wallingford. Your despatches of the 11th written at Tauranga reached here the evening of the 14th and both Fox and I were delighted at the vigor of your plans. I will do all I can to ensure their success and to assist them. To this end I send Locke to Poverty Bay by steamer tomorrow to assist and push on Ropata and the Ngatiporou and to keep the Poverty Bay natives in hand. Hamlin has gone to the Wairoa to raise the force you desired there and he is to go with them to Onepoto -- he started last night and I hope I have made all the arrangements possible to facilitate what has to be done -- Henare Tomoana is very anxious to go and I may send him to Mohaka to go with the Mohaka Natives by way of Putere to attack Waikeremoana from that side -- it is known they