Wairarapa March 28th 1856 My dear McLean, I have just returned from a trip to Ahuriri and thinking you would perhaps like to hear how things are going on there I sit down to give you a short account. In the first place I need hardly tell you that your presence is most anxiously looked for both by Natives and Whites. I heard from Russell and others likely to be well informed on the subject that on your return you would find the Natives ready to make a sweeping sale of the district. The country was looking really beautiful and I was almost more pleased with it than on my first visit. Numbers of people are going up there and nearly all return with the intention of settling there as soon as possible. We have had a good many monied people down from the other Colonies and all I expect intend investing there in some way. Domett is living in your house on the Island, you have heard I suppose that he has actually married that Mrs. George about whom there was such a disturbance some time since. He is very much pleased with his district and will I have no doubt get on very well there. He told me he had quite set his mind upon having a Town at Pakowai (The French Priests place) and was anxious for your return to enable him to make a commencement. Several new Stations have been formed since you left and a great many sheep have been driven into the District. Russell had arrived there with 2000 and many others with smaller numbers. So that you see your District is really going ahead. I among others am looking forward to your return to enable me to take possession of my Run. I have given up the Coast at Porongahau and intend going behind towards E.Riam (Ephraim) I like the country there better and moreover I am the first applicant there which was doubtful at Porongahau. Will you kindly if you can send me a few lines giving me an idea of the probable time of your return, as my arrangements will be regulated a good deal by that. There has been a good deal of squabbling among the natives about the sale of Tautene - The case I believe is this, as far as I have been able to learn. Hori of Waihoukouroa and the other natives who received the payment in Town spent the money there and saved no share of it for old "Ropeha" or the other people at Porongahau. The native residents were very angry at this and were near driving Wallace (who is settled at Tautene) off, they have however agreed to let it stand as it is until your return when they all agree it will be made "all right" - Wallace agreed to give the natives £6 a month until your return, and I spoke to him about it, warning him not to pay anything at all until you were here, which he promised to do after I had explained to him the mischief he might do the land sales in general by such a proceeding. I saw your sheep at Akiteo (I know I am a little out in my Maori here, but I mean your place) McLoughlan told me they were nearly free from Scab. He was when I saw him dressing them for the third time and the spots were hardly to be found and on very few of the sheep - You have heard I dare say of the small number Sandy Grant has delivered "as the Flock" 420 sheep I think altogether. I cannot give you much Wellington news as I am living up here - Brandon and Miss Poole were married lately as also Dr.Philipps and Miss Dorset. Things in general are going on much the same as usual I believe. I must now conclude and hoping I have not bored you, believe me, My dear McLean, Yours very truly, J. D. Ormond