“The Press” In 1865

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30899, 4 November 1965, Page 16

“The Press” In 1865

November 6

FREE PARDON.—On Tuesday afternoon Mr Tuckwell, Governor of the Stockade, received from Wellington free pardons for Hori Taka and Matiu, under sentence of death for the murder of Mr Hamlin at the Wairoa. The documents are, of course, under the hand and seal of the Governor, and were countersigned by Mr Sewell, late AttorneyGeneral, and must have been amongst his latest official acts. Mr Tuckwell, immediately on receiving the pardons, ordered some of the convicts to strike the irons off the prisoners, and this man while doing so. told them in Maori that

they were free. They showed not the least trace of not even congratulate one another, although they had not been allowed to speak to each other during their confinement. While the irons were being taken off, Mr Robert Graham visited the Stockade, and, on

being informed by Mr Tuckwell of the receipt of the pardon, spoke to both men, repeating to them that they were delivered from the sentence of death. They, however, made no demonstration of joy, but quietly walked out of their gates, Matiu offering to shake hands with the chief warden, an offer which was declined. They then leisurely crossed the paddock on to the Kyber Pass road. There was a good deal of grumbling amongst the other prisoners when the Maoris were released: they could not see how murderers should be set free, and men imprisoned for long years for theft

There can be no doubt that the pardon of these men is an inevitable sequence of the late peace proclamation, which “condoned” the murder of Mr Hamlin, for which they were sentenced to death. —“Southern Cross.”