Tauranga July 1st 1871 My dear Mr McLean There are several matters touched upon in your telegrams lately received which it was impossible to reply to intelligently by telegraph owing to the length of explanations necessary - You ask whether it will be possible to carry the telegraph line by way of Hikutaia without exciting any great amount of opposition from the natives. In reply I would say that I do not think that there would be much opposition if we go the right way to work. I think it can be done. I have been informed and I think the information is correct that Meri Kuru - in a casual conversation