Napier May 13th, 1873 Dear McLean, I have written officially asking for legal advice as to how to deal with the Napier Swamp will you please see the matter attended to. There is also a strong desire to get some action taken to secure some Breakwater or harbor work at the Bluff - the project must be reasonable if they can succeed as I hear they are doing at Oamaru. There is no doubt that had Napier a harbor it wd. rapidly become one of the most important places in the Colony. The project spoken of is to connect the Bluff and the Auckland Rock by a breakwater. If it can be done at anything like reasonable cost it wd. not only pay but make Hawkes Bay. I should like to have the opinion of Carruthers or if he can not be spared then of Higginson on this subject. Could you get one of them sent up here before the session to report. He cd. at the same time inspect the Railway line the survey of which is completed but the Plans unfortunately are not ready for this mail. I hear Whitmore's run is no good as sold to Hyde Harris on the terms I before named to you. He keeps Carters and Andersons late runs but is I am glad to say leaving the Province. The "Telegraph" paper had last evening a fair article re Henry Russell's position here - you get the paper so I need not send it. In haste, Yours always, J. D. Ormond. The Whanganui has staged a few hours later than was expected so I have got some official matters written about.