Napier April 28th 1873 My dear McLean, Since Hast wrote Pollen has joined which I did not expect. He will lead the L. Council well and gets rid of that difficulty. This Waikato murder is a nuisance and will be made the most of, but it appears one of those things we must expect and not to have any political significance. It is awkward of course that murders can be committed and the perpetrators by retiring into the King country escape present consequences. I was glad to see by your telegram of Saturday that the Waikato natives as a whole disapprove. Could they not be induced to give up the murderers. If they could it would in a political sense have more weight than the murder. I expect no result from the offer of £1,000 each for the murderers. I wish I could see my way to getting our Hawkes Bay Natives into a better state than they are - from the Native letters I am sending with this you will see they are very nasty and if they dared would be troublesome. I see nothing for it however but to let them have their fling in a short time they will find out their mistake and be manageable again. At present I think it wd. be waste of time trying to influence them - that scoundrel H. Russell must have his work to keep Karaitiana and Henare Matua working together and there is no question that he has to find no end of money for them. I am sorry to say the Bank of New Zealand is assisting them - very possibly thro little Brandon's representations. He as you know is quite in Wilsons hands. Yesterday Cooper telegraphed me Prendergast's opinion re the Maori votes H. Russell has put on the Roll and I see he thinks they will stand. I believe there are near 100 of them altogether between the Napier and Clive districts and there is no doubt they wd. poll as one man against us if an election took place now. I hear H. R. has boasted in the Club that when this Roll has passed the Revising officer he will have a voice in the next Elections. The thing wants looking to for it never was intended the same property shd. give two qualifications. You telegraphed me you had sent the Attorney General's opinion as to the right of Minors etc. to "joint occupancy", with the purchaser or leaseholder of the interests of the other Grantees - I have not received it but the question is a very important one, if as I hear is the case Russell intends to get the Natives to test it - My information is, that Russell has found between 20 and 30 cases, some Purchases, some leaseholds, in which there is something incomplete. In some,married women have executed without their husbands. In others, minors have executed, or perhaps not executed at all, and in others the original Grantees died before sale or lease of the Blocks and successors have been appointed who have not confirmed. All these cases are the same in one respects, viz. That there is an interest not secured. The question I want to get a good opinion on is - can that unsecured interest claim a right of joint occupancy in the Block and can Stock be driven on to the Block on account of that unsecured interest. I have it as a positive fact that Russell is trying to get this done and I feel satisfied that if it is done the settlers will turn out and meet the Natives whenever they attempt it. Russell first thought of this plan in connection with Heretaunga but he finds he cannot do it there because he has first to prove Arihis minority. Among the cases I hear of are - Douglas & Hills Run - S. Williams Patangata Run - Several of the Coast Runs - my native run Wallingford yours (Ngatarawa) is included and no end of others. Some of them may be wrong but no doubt the intention exists. If you have not got a definite opinion from the Attorney General it wd. be well to get one, and perhaps it wd. be best to get one, and perhaps it wd. be best to get it privately. What is wanted is to know. Can A minor - a married woman - or one Grantee in a Block in which the majority in value etc. have disposed of their interest either by Lease or purchase, claim a right of joint occupancy with the Leaseholder or purchaser and put Stock on in exercise of that right. There is a Clause in one of the Native Lands Act which gives power to the majority in value to deal with the whole Block. Will you get an opinion on this and let me have it as soon as you can. It appears to me that in the case of a Minor no step can be taken until He or she comes of age. Anyhow I shd. like to be in a position to advise the first settler who "joint occupancy" is tried on with, what his position really is - So please telegraph result. There is not a great deal more to tell you of goings on here beyond what I have from time to time telegraphed you. There are some of the Native cases to be brought before the Supreme Court and it is expected the Writs will issue at once but it is not known what is coming except that "cases" are to be brought on - Russell, Sheehan and Wilson have been hard at it since the Commission closed and it is understood that as soon as Sheehan has left for Auckland (He goes today) the Writs will issue. Fannin has heard from Wilson's office that there are upwards of 40 cases, so that every one will probably be included. Little Sheehan told me some time last week that he shd. come back shortly to Poverty Bay and from thence come here in time for the Supreme Court, but when I last saw him he told me it was doubtful if he should come here but certainly he shd. be at Poverty Bay. From what I can gather he has not received the large fees he expected and his coming back is dependant on the Natives collecting the necessary funds. He and Russell tried hard to get Karaitiana to sign over some of his land to raise money on but araitiana was too many for them, and after several days spent at Pakowhai they had to give it up as a bad job. Sheehan is very valuable to H. R. for he is ready to do any work however filthy - he has no principle and altogether Russell could not have found a handier tool. To me Sheehan professed not to approve of H. R.'s proceedings but I know too much of him. East Coast Kelly is very thick with Sheehan and has been here some time with him. I think he is all right unless Sheehan can influence him but Sheehan I am sure is thoroughly with the enemy and his vote next session will be against you. What about Swanston I am told he is against also. Sheehan told me the Catholic and Irish party would not support Williamson for Superintendency and on my asking who wd. get their vote he said it was not settled. It struck me the little blackguard thought he might get it himself. I saw very little of either Sheehan or Kelly for I wont' go to the Club whilst H. Russell is admitted there and so miss seeing a good many people I ought. There has been more Run buying since my last. Peter of Canterbury has brought 7000 acres on Carr's Run Petane paying 10s/- for it. Of course he means to buy Carr out - the hills are very ferny and rough but take grass seed well. Sheehan bought the land for Peter and Russell was with him. I hope Peter will not get into their hands. You will see the Hawkes Bay Herald article about H. Russell and the Leg. Council. It has been sent to all the M. L. C's and I enclose you 2 or 3 copies to get the article re-published in some of the other Papers. Could you get it into the "Independent" "Southern Cross" and "Colonist". It is temperately written and the case strongly put and it will tell - they say at the Club he didnt eat for 24 hours after he saw it. I must now wind up. I will write separately about Public Works, I want you to see about. The weather here has been rough lately and heavy rain - always, Yours very sincerely, J. D. Ormond