Napier, September 10th, 1874. My dear McLean, I have only time for a hurried line and there is not much news to give you. Things are all right here the Telegraph keeps on writing in a mild sort of way but it is chiefly because the Herald takes the other side and they are bound to differ - I am quite sure the great bulk of the people are in favour of the abolition of the Provincial system and not the less so because they do not see their way to any very satisfactory arrangement when I should leave office. Please dont forget about the road to inland Patea if Richardson wd. authorise an expenditure of £5,500 I would by the help of Renata and Provincial money get a dray road opened into that district. You know the value of it to both the Colony and also Hawkes Bay. I see Atkinson has taken over Immigration. He is a good man and will do credit to his work whatever it is. When are you coming to Napier when you do come you will have to address your Constituents - for some reason or other they seem to desire it. Locke and Bold have gone to Poverty Bay I told the latter not to hurry with the survey of Patutahi - Vogel asked me to do this as he does not desire the proceeds of that Block to go to Queen Street. If we get it ready to sell early next spring the proceeds will start Poverty Bay under the new state of things - which will be better than wasting it on Queen Street. I have mentioned this as I do not know whether Vogel had spoken to you as to his wish on the subject. We are having fine growing weather and the country is beginning to look well. In haste, Yours always, J.D. Ormond.