Napier May 30th. 1873 My Dear McLean, I am busy preparing for the Provincial Council so can only write hastily. I am glad to see from your last letter that you expect the Waikato matter will be settled without any great difficulty - the simple truth is we cannot afford to fight, for war would stop our Immigration and with that our Public Works. It is unfortunate that the difficulty shd. have arisen at this time as it will be made use of in the House. The telegrams of these cursed newspapers are what do so much mischief and in additon the violent articles some of the Papers are publishing in favour of strong measures against the whole Maori race. Each of these articles is made the most of to the natives by mischievous Europeans and they do much mischief thereby. It is fortunate Rewi is keeping Ngatimaniapoto right as long as they maintain their present attitude the Maori king is powerless for mischief. Native matters here are much as they have been except that the split between Karaitiana and Henare Matua is widening. I am sorry to say that little blackguard Sheehan is coming back here directly to stir up more mischief. Report says Russell found he could do nothing without him and has agreed to see he is paid - in other words to be responsible. Just now Hamlin saw a telegram from Sheehan addressed to the Hawkes Bay natives - Hapuku, Karaitiana, Henare Matua, Renata etc. telling them to keep quiet so that their land questions shd. not be prejudiced - this Telegram was 'franked' as was the reply to be - surely your officials at Auckland ought to know better than to assist in giving Sheehan a position with these Natives - please stop it. About Waitio Bridge and the Road towards Maraekakaho I will do what I can, but the Council will only give a 'grant in aid' towards the Bridge, which will be a costly structure, quite as long as the present Bridge over the Ngaroro at West Clive and besides with bad banks which are constantly going. Maney and others who are working for it say they will find the rest if Govt. will give £1,000 towards it and I am going to propose that. About the Maraekakaho road Carlyon manages to spend the money given for that road on the part of the Hampden road nearer his own place. I will see what I can do and try to get all necessary repairs executed and the road made good. I did not hear from Richardson by the mail, he telegraphed he was writing but if he did his letter has miscarried. He is however doing what I wish in respect to Railway matters and always does his best to help us. W. Rochfort who has surveyed the Railway line goes to Wellington by this opportunity with his plans to expedite the callings for tenders which is what I want done before the Session - please remember me to Richardson and say I am much obliged to him for his remembrance of our wants. This district is going ahead wonderfully - property is daily raising in value and the country is improving in a most extraordinary manner - it seems as if the whole place had waited to make a simultaneous jump forward. About Scab on your Akitio run I was sorry to hear from W. Price our Sheep Inspector (Motuotariah) that on going to your Station a few days ago to ascertain the condition of the Flock etc. that he found Reid the Manager drunk and nothing doing. The general opinion I hear is that he is not equal to the work of cleaning the flock and finds the responsibility too great and is giving way to drink. I think it right to let you know this as unless the flock is thoroughly dressed befor the lambing begins there will be a long and difficult job to clean it afterwards. I have sent to the Speedys of Wainui who know Reid well to ascertain what foundation there is for the report of Reid giving way to drink - when Price saw him might have been an unusual occurrence - I will let you know further when I hear. In haste always, Yours very sincerely, J.D. Ormond.