Napier May 8th. 1870. My dear McLean, When I closed my letter to you yesterday evening, they told me the ''Ashley'' was coming in. She has made, however, a very bad passage, and has only just landed the old Judge after a forty hours = knocking about. The delay enables me to give you some news which has come to hand to-day by the ''Murewai'' from Poverty Bay. I have letters from Locke and Ropata. The latter left for Owheta (Tamihana's Pa) on Wednesday; and on Thursday morning got clear of the Bay district. Ropata has taken 440 men with him, and means business. He knows of the different plans of which I have advised you, and writes that if the others carry out their share as he will his, that