Napier May 3rd, 1875 My dear McLean, On Saturday evening I received yours of that date and see you are getting through a lot of native work. Respecting the big block inland of Featherstone's Rangitikei purchase no doubt you know that the West Coast natives assert claims to it altho' I believe they admit Renata has claims also. I learnt this at the time the purchase of the Wairarapa end of the seventy mile Bush was arranged. It will be good to secure some of the Patea land, if you could make a beginning there it wd. end in the acquisition of a large Block of Country. I see the Auckland papers are still writing indignant articles abt. Studholme's lease at Patea that of course is Grey's doing. Heis more active than we thought - old Wilson was with me yesterday and in speaking of Sheehan and the native cases he told me Sheehan did not mean them to come on at present. That he was keeping his hands clear in the expectation that Grey would succeed when he would get something. I laughed at this when he said - but you don't know the alliances thare are being made. I just give you this for what it is worth - that Grey and his party mean all the mischief they can. I have no doubt but I consider them helpless for mischief. Colenso is back from inland and will tell you when he sees you how Sheehan is working politically among the natives - of course Colenso has only come in contact with that lot of natives and takes his impressions accordingly. He wants to see you and will wait your return here. What about the Wairoa and Taupo natives I see in your note you suppose they would stay with Tareha - They are however all living on the Spit and getting Rations. Wilson has been to me about Toha's case against Mullins the man who ill-treated him. From what Wilson says nothing will come of it as the decision in the R. M.'s Court Wairoa will be pleaded as having decided the case. No doubt my brother did not inflict enough punishment especially now it turns out Toha will most likely lose his eye. Still from what Wilson says pressing the case will not result in any further punishment to Mullins. I am very busy with these confounded elections and think I have arranged to keep Buchanan out - no other news. Yours always, J. D. Ormond