INTERESTING HISTORICAL DOCUMENT.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6545, 14 September 1886, Page 3

INTERESTING HISTORICAL DOCUMENT.

THE FIBST DEATH WARRANT IN

NEW ZEALAND.

Mr Justice Gillies has sent to the Auckland Institute a historical document of O-r-riderable interest. The letter accompanying is aa follows:—

M Auckland, 7th September, 1886—Sir,— Herewith I beg to present to the Institute, for prose-ration in the Museum, a relic connected with the early history of New : Zealand which has oome into my possession. It ia the original warrant for the execution of Maketn, a Native, dated 7th March, 184., under the hand of Governor Hobion, and the black seal of the colony, This waa the first death warrant issued in the colony. The crime of Maketn, his trial aad execution, will be found fully drafted ia -_omson'. ' Hwtorv of New Zealand," vol. a, pages 60,53.—1 am, sir, year most obedient servant. Thomas B. G___x__.—T. P. Ch-eaeman. E*q., Curator, lastitute aad Museum, Auckland." " New Zaalaod: To wit, Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain aad Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, and ao f_r__, Ac.— To James Coatee, Esquire, of the town of Auckland, Sherut: Greeting.—Whereas Maketn hath been indicted at felony and murder, by him done and committed. which said indictment hath been certified before us in our Supreme Court; and the said Maketn hath been thereupon arraigned, and upon such arraignment pleaded ' Not Guilty'; and the said Haketu hath , before as, in oar said Supreme Court, beea ! tried, and in doe form of law convicted thereof; and whereas judgment hath been gives in oar said Supreme Court that the said Maketn be taken to the place __e_ce he came, and from thence to the ' place of execution at such place and at such time as His Excellency the Governor with the advice ol the Executive Council may order and direct, aad that he be huured by the neck until he ia dead, the -xeontionaf which jed-mentyes remainetu to he done. We require and by these presents shortly command you that upon Monday, the seventh day of March instant, between tbe hours of eleven in the morning and two in the afsernoon of the heme day, W«n, the said M«*etu J£ forthV-th convey to the front o Ihe common jail ot the said town of end that yon do causa exe-cnti-TVo be done upon the ea.d Maketn in all things according to the said judgment, and this jouare by no £een_ to^-aitat your para.- W*n-«onr truly and well-beloved *»"-»? Esq-ire, Captain in H»r Boyal in and over Her Majesty's colony ci New Zealand,and its depe_-*Beief, »ad vice__i3 "the **?"£«** day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eignt hundred and forty-two, and in the fifth year of onr reign.—w. HoßsoH, Governor." . .. .„„ The seal is the first teal of tto •oJobj. and shows Her Majesty ia the act ot aa-

"Hreeeiß*; several *BK6r»e~ ~ Tt~M~ r HSfS¥sSe<r on an eaonaow Kplatoh of jbfeck ««• Tb* document (adds the New Zealand Herald) it not ea carefully written oat as we presume similar missives are now aday s. There are several interlineation* made at a different tim*, and with different ink to the body of the document. Over the same of James Coatee is written the name of Pecciral Berry. (Mr Berry sncceeded Mr Coatee in the office of Sheriff ) Over the name of Maketu, wherever it occurs in the body of the document is written the name Joseph Borne. Over the date, " Monday, the seventh day of March," are written the word*, "Saturday, the 17th day of June." In the place where the direction is given as to the place of exrcation the words are hieertod, "Site where the house of Mr Snow stood on the North Shore of the harbor cf Auckland," and at the conclnsion, over the words, "William Hobson" are the words, " George Grey." The explanation of these interlineations doubtlees is that the warrant was used ac a copy to make out the warrant for the execution of Joseph Barns, who was hanged for the murder of Lieutenant Snow at the North Shore.