Napier April 5th. 1865. My dear McLean, I hope to be down the beginning of next week and to find you getting quite yourself again. I only write a line now in reference to a case about the Hunters in which some action has been taken. There is no doubt they have been wrong. I forgot to tell you it was a case of taking Bush for Crown Land and they have tried by putting on plenty of strength to work the Bush out before they were stopped. Carter has very properly stopped them from cutting and also from removing the Timber they have split (about 10,000 posts I believe). They have applied to me about it. I have promised to try and get the Prosecution against them stopped and also to get the land surveyed and sold as soon as possible. But they are not satisfied with this and want to be allowed the Timber also. That is simply out of the question. The land would be unsaleable if the Totara were removed and the law will not allow it either. Will you please ask Carter to stay proceedings for a day or two (if they are being taken) until I come down and can tell him the particulars of the case. There is nothing going on in the neighbourhood and as I shall see you so soon I need write no more. Yours very truly, J. D. Ormond.