Auckland, November 13 1871. My dear McLean, I got back from the Thames on Saturday night. There was a general gathering at Ohinemuri on Wednesday and Thursday, I should think of all sexes and ages not much short of 500. There was much talk in public on both days, and more in the whares at night, where, as usual, the real business was transacted. You will get a copy of Te Hira's letter about the wire and Tawhiao's reply, from Kemp, and will see that he left them to do as they chose. It suited the Kiriwera to stick out for plunder, and I was in the end obliged to submit to be muru'd. On the first day they insisted upon waiting for six months before the telegraph should be erected. Good or evil, they said, would predominate before that time. Te Hira and Moananui are not on good terms, and what the one desires the other opposes. Mackay spent the night talking amongst them and it was agreed that at the meeting next day he was to the wire/himself as a neutral party and carry it by Hikutaia, the Hon. gentlemen of the Kiriwera receiving an honorarium or rather being permitted to taonga from the store at Pairoa to the amount of £80 or £90. The performance of the second day was worked out gravely in accordance with this argument. Mackay took the wire and Kiriwera Muru'd the stores and we have got to pay about £100 or so which is better than waiting six months. Moananui snarled at Te Hira and threatens, privately, that he will hunt him out of the district in 6 months. The opposition has been corrupted, in Parliamentary fashion, and has disappeared. Land is going to be surveyed for the Coast and Ohinemuri in due time will open if let alone. Te Hira will go to Waihi when the first pole is put up there and make a formal protest against it, in the mean time his people ate ordered to see or hear nothing of the work that is going on. Mackay has gone to Waihi to complete all arrangements and the Dixons are coming up to town to-day to give up their old claim and to enter into engagement for the work on the new line. Without making a contract with any one or as old Warbrick did with his service, the Telegraph people might send an express through once or twice a week without opposition from Katikati to the Thames or once to the Tames and once to Cambridge that I think would be enough until the line is completed. There will be no objection made to travellers to and fro but the regular mail might create jealousy and be stopped. I see that one of your crew has been thrown overboard and no doubt i "appalled". The session will surely now be at an end. Ngapuhi deputation coming back today. Mogonui not very well satisfied I believe. I sent a message to you some time ago to say that the purchase of the Wharau block at the Thames was completed, that the rovincial Treasurer had advanced the money amounting to £559-5-0 to pay the Natives and that he wanted this money refunded. Lusk advanced the money out of deposits and desires urgently to have it replaced. Will you kindly see to it, the message was official. I have not had time to make an official report of the Ohinemuri proceedings but will do so by next mail. There is nothing new except that Caledonians have been done today at £70. Yours very truly, Daniel Pollen.