Wallingford Decr. 25th/66 My dear McLean, A happy Xmas to you it is a cold blowy S. E. day here. J. Williams is here today to tell me that there is a hitch about the Kuramu case being heard and decided Only one assessor is come from Auckland and I hear Tareha objects to the case being adjudicated upon by any local assessor. The fact is he is throwing obstacles in the way and this has been promoted by that donkey Tanner'a bad management. Locke has now full charge of the matter. I want your help in the matter. What I want is - In the first place to have Tareha got agreable to some or one of our local assessors, say either Noah, Morena or Harewera. If that can't be managed, then to get Monroe to adjourn the case until after the Waipawa sitting is over, and in the mean time send either for one of the Wairoa or poverty Chiefs, to act with the Auckland assessor. Tareha might be asked which Chief he would agree to. There is nothing unreasonable in the request. The difficulty has arisen simply from the Judge coming here without the necessary assistance to settle difficult cases. Of course I dont blame Monroe I hear that his assessors abandoned him at the last moment. However the course I have indicated is a reasonable one of getting over the difficulty and you will oblige mevery much if you will get Monroe to arrange one course or the other. I shall hear from Monroe I conclude by the Mail tomorrow and if he writes me that the case is to go on I must get down to Napier as quickly as I can. But I dont' want to have a needless trip and if the adjournment has to be arranged for the arrival of an assessor I wd. sooner come down when the case is actually to be adjudicated upon. You will I know give me a help in this matter. Yours always, J. D. Ormond Please let Locke and Monroe have the enclosed soon.