Napier June 13th. 1873 ar McLean, I am very busy with my Council work but must write a few lines to tell you what I think of the Scheme you tell me is determined on viz. the carrying the Railway works through to Taupo - the decision is a most important one and I should think means facing the Waikato King Party. No doubt you have considered fully the consequences. To my mind a struggle is certain. Do you expect general sympathy from other Tribes with the King party or not? In former times you have thought that forcing road works through the interior would enlist sympathy of many Tribes on the King side. Of course we have our Allies and as you say they need attending to. As for our European force it will in my opinion take some time and actual work in the field to make it reliable, and I also think another great want is a competent officer to command. These are important questions and the experience of the past has taught us they require careful consideration. After saying all that I now express my concurrence in the wisdom and necessity of what has been determined on and will readily give help in giving effect to it. How about MacKay being fit to manage affairs in Waikato should war be necessary I cannot think he has the coolness and judgement necessary. Energy no doubt he has plenty of, but energy without the other qualities is almost a weakness. I see you may be up here directly and shall be glad to see you and discuss these matters. No doubt it is most important to have Ngatiporou well in hand under existing circumstances. The Hawkes Bay Natives are not in a good state but I think matters are very much improved with them. I do not for a moment think any difficulty from them is to be apprehended but on the other hand little sympathy or help is to be expected. The only thing I believe they might assist Waikato is in the arms and ammunition, but perhaps that is not likely. At my recent interview with Henare Matua who no doubt has the bulk of the Hawkes Bay Natives with him, he behaved very differently to heretofore and as an ecidence of better feeling he requested me to interfere in a land dispute between the Porangahau people and Ngaitau (i.e. Karaitiana) and cause enquiry to be made as to the merits of the case. This is coming back to the Govt, and shews a better state of feeling. All the Natives I believe begin to see the motives of H. Russell and that he has been only using them for his own purposes. Sheehan they also begin to estimate at his proper worth. Re Henare Tamoanas prosecution I am seeing what I can do to get the matter settled. If Henare will admit the falsehood of his Statements the prosecution will be dropped. He and Karaitiana are now in town on this subject. My Council work is going on quietly - the only stir that has been made is about the confounded" Te Aute Estate" and against the Williams, who are very unpopular in H. Bay. The Estimates are nearly all passed but there are a lot of Bills which will keep the Council occupied until the end of the month. About Akitio run from what I hear your sheep are very much worse than you think. I have heard nothing since abt. Reid but will let you know when I do. I must close Yours always J.D. Ormond. Telegraph me if there is any chance of your coming here. I have seen Burton. He seems very doubtful about his work and will not I think do much. He might manage paticular purchases on the East Coast but is not self-reliant.