Wallingford Oct. 30th. 1866 My dear McLean I am just in from some sheep work and found your letter of the 25th. Oct. The pack horse and ammunition etc. are not yet arrived but doubtless will in due course. (Since arrived all right.) Thank you for so promptly sending me up what appeared necessary at the time I wrote you for it. I have no news to give you. The Wairarapa Native messenger has not returned yet a sure indication that there was no news for him to bring. Last night my head man from the Manawatu Station came in having left Puhaetahi in the morning. The Natives had told him that they were in daily expectation of the arrival of Ngairos party who were going on to Napier. He says the Natives are not at all alarmed in there. I write a few lines by him to old Hiriwanu telling him to send you a messenger straight, and at once on the arrival of the party at his place, and not to wrangle with them himself --- but just let them take their own way. I am strongly inclined to believe that Ngairo and party will go to fight with McDonnell on the West Coast and not trouble us. The road they use does not run by Puhaetahi --- but at Raukawa the West Coast side of the Manawatu range breaks off, and goes straight to Wairarapa at any rate if they come either road this way we shall have ample notice of them. I shall send this by the Policeman and tell him to forward it by any chance offering for Waipawa. Yours always J.D. Ormond.