Napier June 22nd 1872 My dear McLean I have not a great deal to write you about by this mail - I am getting through my work and shall be ready to go to Wellington by the Rangatira on her return unless you are likely to be this way about the same time with the Luna - I suppose I am wanted badly for they keep telegraphing to me to get to Wellington as soon as possible However I must settle the work here before I leave and shall get all straight in another week - A fearful lot of my time has been wasted in counteracting the mischief that scoundrel Russell has been working and I think he is getting pretty well beaten. The resolutions passed at the late meeting have been sent to the Govt. and we must see they are not lost sight of - A number of the Members of the Club here have addressed a demand to the Committee that Mr. Russell be expelled from the Club and I think it will be carried - according to the Rules he has the option to retire on failing to do so can be compelled to do so on a general meeting black-balling him - I have signed the demand to the Committee for his expulsion and will sign it for you if you will authorise me. I think enough will sign it to make it necessary for him to go and being expelled his Club cannot but have its weight at the Assembly - Unless checked before the Session he will be very troublesome and we shall in Col. Russell's absence have no one to meet him to contradict the Hawkes Bay lies he always tells - We shall miss old Russell but I dont think we cd. put his son Bill into the Upper House we shd. disgust a lot of people here if we did - The natives are in good train here and have behaved well - of course they have wanted a lot of working up but still they are all right. Even Henare Matua is beginning to drop H. R. and will come in directly - It is very disgusting to have to waste time at such work when one has more to do than can be done properly - still it is lucky one of us was here or there wd. have been mischief done - I have not heard yet of the Russells having succeeded in getting any hold on either your or my Leases and if they have not I doubt now if the natives will trust them - The accounts I have from inland are that those natives lately so bent on mischief are frightened and will take advantage of it to come over if an opportunity is given them - I am sending Colenso up to see them quietly with a view to advising them to drop their proceedings and work with the Govt. Colenso has a good deal of weight with the inland natives and will I think do good - He will appear to the natives as outside the Govt. altho' really he is employed - Locke is very little good for meeting difficulties such as I have had lately - but he is thoroughly loyal O We are having a wonderful season as yet no signs of winter and very little rain - I wish you wd. telegraph after you get this saying if there is any chance of your getting here before I leave - It is advisable we shd. both get to Wellington as soon as possible - the Upper House difficulty is very serious and unless Gisborne will do it there will be an awkward fix - I havent time for more. Yours always J. D. Ormond