Napier Decr. 28 /71 My dear McLean, I have only time to write three lines before the mail closes - I have heard from you by Telegraph of all that has transpired since I left Wellington and of course go North on Saturday by the Albion. If she had gone today I simply have gone by her - as it is I shall have to leave no end of business unsettled - I found the country looking beautiful especially the Plains which are showing their real capabilities - The Napier plains are worth more than all the rest of the Province together and I doubt very much if there is better land in the Colony - At Wallingford I found everything as well as I could expect the sheep especially very much improved - the runs are dry but the sheep are all in good order and where there is English grass it is green enough - I saw Rev.S.Williams last night he told me there was a great deal of disaatisfaction among the natives in relation to Kereopas execution - not because we are going to hang him but because they accuse us of only hanging him because he killed a Pakeha. The murder of Karaitiana and others at Wairoa is instanced as a far worse murder even than Mr.Volkner, but they say although Reihana is in our hands we allow him to escape because he killed a Maori - There is some just ground for discontent in this and I think you shd. consider whether it is not desirable that Reihana shd. be tried. There need be no hurry about his trial but he might be made prisoner and sent to Gaol - the necessary evidence against him is at Wairoa - It seems Colenso has done a good deal of mischief among the natives in connection with Kereopa's case - but both Williams-and the old Bishop say the only ground on which the natives generally condemn our action is that we do not meet out the same justice to Reihana as to Kereopa. There has been a good deal of talk about old Col. Russell's appointment but of course there always is and he appears not to be popular. He goes north I think by the Albion. I must close I have no end to do before I leave here write to me at Auckland. Always Yours very truly J.D.Ormond