Wallingford October 12th 1864. My Dear McLean, Thanks for your long letter by the Mail. What a pretty mess the country is getting into? Depend upon it the Maories wont give Grey the chance of sending the Troops away. They will fight him if he doesn't them. The recent move at Tauranga is simply a confirmation of what my natives told me on my return home. The beggars mean to have another tussle for it this summer depend upon it. As far as I can understand the native plan is to wait our attack at Tarranaki and when we are employed there to make a dash at Waikato. I think none of our watchfulness should be relaxed whilst things are so unsettled as at present. This unfortunate diversion that is caused by the runaway prisoners does not at all improve the present aspects of things the mere idea af a war with the North on the hands of the colony in addition to what we have already is too terrible a calamity to think of. I don't wonder at Grey's hesitation disgraceful tho' it be - did such a result ensue he wd. be a ruined man. Whether operations for the capture of the runaways wd. lead to trouble with the North I do not pretend to be able to judge - nor indeed is it of much use soliloquising over this unfortunate question. We shall shortly know how things are tending and be better able to judge of our future prospects. In the meantime greatest mishap that has befallen the Colony in my opinion is the loss of its money credit at home. The issue of the present position of Governor and Ministers is of course a matter of deep interest to us all - I cannot regret the men tho' I do the manner of their fall. Let me however if possible forget for a time these colonial questions or misfortunes and turn to the different Provincial matters, you write upon. I fear that Ministers will not be too ready to meet their financial engagements in their exit from Office. If they can lay their hands easily on £6,000 or so they are better off than I believe them. A bout the Tiko-Kino claimants the Bill as altered by Lord Russell and Stokes left youno-option to consider claims other than those set forth in the Act. What Karaitiana tells you about the natives intention to sell Roy's run is quite correct. They tell me that it is sold and that it is to be settled for at the meeting you have promised them in November. What time are you going to have this meeting and where? I shall give myself a day or two's holiday and come down. Karaitiana has told you truly also about the opponents to the sale of the 40 mile bush. Apiata and Ropiha represented by Mr. Nopera are the opposition. Paul Ropiha I shall send down to you on his way to see Feather stone about the southern part of the Bush purchase He you will of find pliable and he is quite of as much consequence as his father and Apiata. As you know however he is a tricky scoundrel. All parties concerned in the Manawatu land seem to have a great respect for old Herewena and I fancy his consent is essentially necessary. In speaking with Nopera the other day I said I understood Herewena desired to sell. There was a great rumpus directly and I had to say that I thought I had heard natives say so in talking to you. Dont think from all this that I am meddling. What I say is very cautiously said and will not embarrass you. About the Troops I agree with you they had better be returned to Napier. I shd. like you however to arrange with Whitmore that one troop of the Defence Corps replace them. I shd. think Col. Trevor is a bad exchange for Dwyer as far as our interests are concerned. I note what you say about the military settlers. The sooner we are quit of them on their present terms the better. When does little Whitmore go - are we to be rid of him by the 6th of Novr. Have you heard anything about Lambert in reply to your letters about him - he is very anxious to hear - let me know when you write next mail. By the bye you ought to do something about filling up the vacant Executive seats. If the act repealing the Wellington Contractors Act is assented to there is no difficulty. Rhodes at any rate will act at once and it will be more constitutional to comply with the spirit of the existing law. Have the Harbour Council sat yet - give them a nudge and let them do something towards accomplishment of their object. When do you think of going to Wairoa. I shd. say that the purchase of land there or anywhere else in the Province will have a good effect - other sales will follow. Thank you for your kind enquires for wee Geordie he is all well now and full of mischief. Always sincerely yours, J. D. Ormond