Wallingford June 8th/64 My dear McLean, I have been writing a few lines to Whitmore on Volunteer and Militia business. The late calling out of the Militia included the whole Province and the people resident round here who had complied with the terms offered by the Govt. on the occasion when the Militia was before called out think that the Govt. has not kept its word with them. The District which supplies the Porangahau Mounted Rifles is a pretty large one but is occupied by 8 stations. Two of these Crosse and Flemings are very small stations and supply only one man each to the Corps. St. Hills is also a small affair and supplies two men only. The Troop consists of 34 men so that the six remaining Stations supply the rest of the men and mount them - which I think and they all consider a fair equivalent for any militia service they could be called on for. The fact is that the very scattered residence of the people wd. make a compulsory Militia service of all the men a serious hardship. A majority of the stations I have referred to would be left entirely without hands for at least two days for every one days drill from the distance the men wd. have to travel to Parade ground. Will you say a word to little Whitmore on this matter I would not ask you to do so did I not think that the settlers are fairly entitled to what they ask under our old offer to the outlying Districts which by the bye was signed by Whitmore. Old Hapuku is back, he went round by Tererere and Mair tells me he had heard he was to be taken prisoner by Whitmore's orders, which made him make the circuit to avoid Waipukerau. I enclose you two in my opinion very stupid Resolutions which Cooper edged on by his Lordship's advice has I suppose proposed to say at the Waipawa bench meeting. Old Newman is a great fool and the letter alluded to in Cooper's mem. is a very disgraceful production, still the man is a kind of madman and I think it a pity Cooper has taken so strong a step against him. Really the perpetual bickerings among these people are disgusting. By what H. Russell said to me on my way home the other day he takes it for granted that we are sending more troops inland to occupy his Stockade at Waipukerau. Of course we can do nothing of the kind at all events whilst we are provincially liable for expense in so doing. He bothered me a good deal about the confounded buildings and I told him we had washed our hands of them altogether and wd. do no more for them one way or another that they were Gen. Govt. buildings and that he had better represent what he wished to Whitmore. I just mention this that you may know I have said this to him in case he shd. pester you which he is pretty sure to do. His Lordship is a curious character as you know a few days ago he was in a state of panic when I saw him on my way up he was full of a days summoning for debts which he was going to hear against the Natives around him. I told Weber about the Fire clauses in the Roads bill you can send the latter up to me when it is completed. I have no more to say. Yours always, J. D. Ormond. P. S. Purvis Russell wants to go away to Sydney you had better try to stop him until Council is over we never know what may turn up or what strength we may want.