Wallingford Febr. 2nd/65 My dear McLean, I have no letter from you this mail and have little to write you about. I enclose a letter from Nopera to you about his dispute with Newman. I think that the case shd. be settled before Newman goes home. Of its merits I know nothing but I certainly think that when called on (by natives) it is our especiall duty to see that their case which they desire to have settled by our principles of equity shd. be dealt with. It will be easy for Mr. Locke's report on this case I shd. imagine to effect some settlement of it. I hear that the remainder of the Plains are being snapped up by private individuals. Can you not manage to secure the lower plains from Tareha and the Clive Havelock piece from Karaitiana, The price is of small moment if you can only manage to get hold of the country. Time is slipping away. Have any steps been taken to carry out the Council's resolution about Wharfage duties on Colonial importations. It is a long time now since the Council sat we shall have to account for not having done anything in it. Did you ever write about William Henry Hunter being gazetted a J. P. If not please do so for I have placed myself in an unknown position in regard to him. I had to ask him first if he wd. serve and now of course he expects it. He is very much wanted for with Cooper's visits we really require a Court here to deal with ordinary cases and cannot get a Court of J. P.'s. Please tell Weber that the wedges which keep the Wallingford bridge together are found to be rotten and that they require looking to at once or the Bridge may suffer. I have not time to write more. I shall be down at the end of the month. Always, sincerely yours, J. D. Ormond