Wellington Augst. 26th./65 My dear McLean, I cannot write you a very long letter this time I have put off your letter to the last and now there is no time. I send you a Native Lands Bill to be read a second time on Tuesday next. Native Rights Bill passed - Outlying Districts Bill passed 2nd. reading and thro' Committee. These measures contain the New Ministers Native policy - Fitzgerald is a different man as Minister as his policy will show you. There is besides to be a Proclamation of general amnesty and pardon for everyone except such as have been guilty of civil crimes other than rebellion. Besides this there is the Native Commission Bill about which I wrote you before. I have only spoken once at any length on the Native Policy since I wrote last and that was last night on the Outlying Districts Bill I spoke for about an hour and was very much complimented on my speech, even by both Weld and Fitzgerald altho' I expressed my dissent from the Bill altho' not prepared to help turn them out upon it. I daresay my matter was good, but the debate was a dull one and I could not get the steam up, which is necessary for me if I want to do my best. I believe I made the best speech that was made in the Debate at any rate - which is saying something for one's self. I have made a good deal of ground this Session and get as much attention when I do speak as any one that addressed the House. I never presend to speak unlesss I am up to my subject and that is the reason. I objected to Govt. Native Policy or rather such parts as I disagree with on the ground that the objects sets forth are beyond our reach, if they are in earnest in sending away the troops and managing with some 1200 men as they now walk of. Also because the Bills when translated into Maori (the rule now) and circulated among the Natives will produce a belief in the Native Mind that confiscation is intended where it is not - that in fact we want their land and thus jeopardized the receipt of the N. Lands Act etc. Also because Govt. admitted they could not and do not intend to carry these laws out generally and I object to our promulgating anything as Law which we cannot effect. Such in brief was my criticism. I went into the Representation question etc. - and I gave the House a statement of the proposals the Natives desired to be discussed in the proposed Hawkes Bay Meeting - I cant write more about that. The Acts will describe themselves. The Govt. have agreed with me not to attempt coercive measures against the Native run holders generally - the Plains question is excepted from separate arrangement. I have written letters to the Apostle the one for Capt. Russell I enclose you you can read it, shew it to Rhodes if he be in, and then send it on to Russell. I think the proposition a reasonable one - good for the Apostles and good for the District. I (entre nous) could get the matter (by working it) settled wither way by Govt. I shld. recommend however my proposition as one equitable to all parties. If I were you I would ahandon on the same principle the plan of Nga Tarawa - keep what is necessary to you and express your willingness to give up the rest, keeping of course the bills to yourself. These conessions will stop if they be carried out the cry against the illegal squatting. The Petitions are to hand - it is a pity they are so very naked of any statement in support of them. They will carry little or no weight in the House as they are. I shall wait now for the Wairoa Petition and pin the others on to it. I hope you have taken care to word it well and in a way that will tell in the. House. When do you come down I hardly expect you before the 7th. now - you will do no good by coming before. The news of Poverty Bay is not encouraging but I think matters will be affected there by what has taken place at Waiapu. The men there certainly have behaved very well. When will the Plains be ready to lease - push it on, for we are paying a very heavy rental for them. Also the Wairoa lands - we ought to sell What is ready surveyed and lease the Plains on the same day - we shd. get a better attendance if we have a good deal to sell. Canterbury wont buy the Dredge. Govt. want her to go to Opotiki I will see Atkinson about it before I post this. The Native Lands Court will be put in force in Hawkes Bay almost immediately - I dont think Fenton, who has the nomination of all the Judges will agree to Cooper. I have tried to get Cooper appointed but I dont think they will do so - they dont say yes or no - there was a talk of getting Gisborne to take the Hawkes Bay Judgeship but I dont think they could spare him, there is no doubt the success of the scheme depends mainly upon the kind of men they get to work it. His Lordship has I believe complained to the Attorney General of J. Curling and the matter he says is to be enquired into. I have heard nothing of it as yet. It will be sent to me of course before anything can be done in it. Old English has resigned as Coroner who can be made Coroner for his District you had better ask Hutchings. What is the date on which our Prov. Council meets again - tell me by return Steamer if you dont come. Unless you want to come before I think if I were you I wd. delay until the Steamer of the 7th. Sept. and the rest of the Troops arrive, for I dont think we could press on our measures that you want to see about until another fortnight - the House will only get the Financial statement on Tuesday and all next week will be fully occupied. After that we shall be able to come in. Yours always, J. D. Ormond.