Auckland October 30, 1871 My dear McLean, The City of Adelaide leaving in the morning gives me an opportunity to write to you which I have not had for some time as I came down the Thames too late to catch the Taranaki. The Telegrams I sent will have given you the general results of that expedition. We shall know in a day or two what the final determination of the King's people at Ohinemuri is but in any case the line by the Hikutaia is safe. I have sent you an official report. MacKay has really worked very hard and it is to him alone that success in the business will be owing neither Puckey nor myself nor any of the Kawanatanga are held in favor up there by the Hauhau side. Self interest is however eating its way slowly through the ranks of the opposition which is gradly melting away. I have thought it to be the prudent plan to wait until the messengers from Te Kuiti come back before making any active movement with the line. When it is settled which way we may go then we can start at once and have a mail until the wire is put up. We have all the foreshore that has gone through the Court except Rapana's piece; that we shall get bye and bye. O'Keee is deluding the old man with the idea that Williamson is to make it all right for him at Wellington and get him the right to dispose of the paru moana as he pleases. That story about Ohinemuri being opened for gold mining was a "shave". A bush license has recently been granted for a house at the Paeroa and the licensee or his man being a newspaper correspondent, bid for customers, through the "Press". A report was in town this morning that there had been a fight with Te Kooti at Hora hora a few days ago in which Preece and five Arawas were killed, that T K lost one man only and made good his escape to Waikato. This afternoon I received from Searancke the Telegram which I send saying that Te Raihi had informed him that Te Kooti had got across and was with the Hauturu people and Maungarangi. It appears that Rewi and the other expouse his cause, whether he has got there or not, and that, as I told you before, they have got the idea that you intend to set Ngatiporou upon them. The report of the morning came from Matamata. Raihi's story to Searancke is therefore the echo of it. Mair has received from Wiremu Toetoe of whom we have heard nothing for a very long time a message or letter saying that they were coming out to take up the bones at Kihikihi and Orakau and bury them at Rangiawhia, and he asked if the Government would supply the Hauhau party with food. I referred the matter to Wheoro before giving any answer. Mongonui and the party from the Bay have gone up, not liking the business much apparently, but determined to be firm about Todds murder. I suppose that you see the end of the session now and the haven of rest at hand. It has been on the whole a lively time I should think. Yours very truly, Daniel Pollen