Napier Novr, 30th, 1870 My dear McLean, You will only get a hurried line from me by this opportunity as I have been continually interrupted this morning and the Ashley goes on at once. I read. your long letter of the 17th Novr. and see the course you have decided to take respecting Te Kooti. I hope it may prove the right one but if it does I shall esteem you as especially fortunate. By the Ashley I hear from Poverty Bay that a false alarm of Te Kooti had just taken place at Tokomaru which took all the natives who were at Gisborne attending the Land Court off to their places. It turned out to be entirely without foundation and the Natives are now reassembling for the Court. Still it shews that state of uncertainty they are in and will continue in so long as that miscreant i