Auckland, October 14, 1871 My dear McLean, I enclose Puckey's account of the proceedings at Ohinemuri. I have heard Mackay's and they coincide in every particular. It is quite evident that Mackay is the master of the situation there. He tells me there is a firm belief in Te Hira's mind, and amongst the natives about him, that there is a league between yourself and Ropata to carry war into Waikato where the "otinga" is to be, and that the chase of Te Kooti who is to be hunted to Tokagnamutu by Ropata is only a blind. It is not the first time I have heard the same story and from opposite quarters. It is worth while to take note of it I think. I mean to go up to Ohinemuri on Wednesday with Mackay, and, accepting the permission for the Telegraph as settled will endeavour with old Te Hira and to see what can be done relieve Moananui of his outlawry. He has become a resolute water drinker and member of the Band of Hope. After that I will put surveyor on the line by Hikutaia that we may get an estimate of the cost of it. Mackay wants to get £500 for his services superintending the carrying through of the line etc. and it must be given to him in some way or other; out of the contract perhaps most conveniently. It may be that if the work were done by the Government directly a great saving might be made and risk of rows with Natives avoided. Dixon might be employed in that way perhaps. If there any papers in yours of the Telegraph offices belonging to his Dixon's contract pray order them to be sent to me at once. There is a Memo of Lemons with your official of the 6th Sept. which as relates to this line is just "bosh". We must get the line through "somehow", without being obliged to cut 2 chains of bush" on land that is not ours and putting up totara poles that are not obtainable except at great cost. There is a craze about Totara in the "Department" Whatever may be the character of that wood south of the 39 Paralel, here it is not be compared for durability in the Ground to heart of Kauri. There is not much news of any kind here. I see the great railway contractor is out and with you by this time. I would rather see a shipload or two of immigrants by a great deal. What I do see is that a year is gone and with it a milluon of money but not a soul added to the population here, I hope for all our sakes it is not to be always thus. Yours very truly, Daniel Pollen