THE GOVERNOE'S WARRANT FOR THE EXECUTION OF RUARANGI AND OKEROA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 133, 16 April 1864, Page 4

THE GOVERNOE'S WARRANT FOR THE EXECUTION OF RUARANGI AND OKEROA.

At 11 o'clock on Thursday morning Mr. O'Brien, the Sheriff, took down to the Mount Eden stockade, the Governor's warrant, in which his' Excellency stated that he did not see any reason why the sentence passed on Euarangi by law should not take its due course. Mr. Munro, the government interpreter (who was with the sheriff at the time) interpreted the Governor's warrant to the convict, who appeared to be quite indifferent as to his approaching fate. Theinterpreter explainedtohiminthe presence of Air. O'Brien, the sheriff, Mr. Flynn, the gaoler, the Rev.Mr. Buddie, and the Rev. W. Baker, that his execution would take place on Monday morning next nt sunrise. On hearing this, lluarangi stated that he was ignorant of the crime, and that he did not know that he had committed any such an act as that of which he had been accused; he said that he had been tried and only waited to hear from the Governor, but now his sins must go before God, the seat of judgment. The convict Okeroa also had the Governor's warrant interpreted to him in the presence of Mr. O'Brien, sheriff, and Mr. Flynn, gaoler; the Revds. W. Baker and T. Buddie were also present, when he also appeared to be indifferent to what was explained to him by the interpreter. He has every appearance of insanity. He enquired of Mr. Munro if he had come to liberate him. Mr. Munro said no ; but that he was to die on Monda} r morning next, at sunrise. After this the officials withdrew from the presence of the convicts, the clergymen remaining to prepare them for their pending fate. With regard to the latter prisoner Okeroa, we believe that there exists a very strong and general opinion that we are carrying the execution of the law to too great an extremity in t iking his life and that the man, if not insane, is at least fatuous, and there are those who do not hesitate to say that it is from fear of offending the Ngapuhisthat the full sentence of the law is about to be carried out. The conduct of this prisoner from the very first can lead to no other supposition than that he is idiotic. A petition to the Governor, praj'iug that the clemency of the Crown may be exercised in this ease, has been, we understand, numerously signed in the course of yesterday by a very respectable portion of the citizens. With regard to Ruarangi, public opinion w equally fixed that the doom which awaits bun on Monday, is a just and merited one. " 8

r „. however, a word to say on this subject. o e kßoTthat' S t Kaipara certain of the Ngatihave declared that.( Ruaraugi is hanged Z.y will exact „/,/. bx taking the lives of Europeans in that district and we have heard .stated bv those who know the natives well. that =uch is not unlikely to be the case. Such B „ opinion has been openly expressed by a lawofficer of the Crown, noted for his arqumntaii.e with Maori habits and customs. Such being 'license wc trust that the authorities will take , : llin ,ediatf steps to prevent such an occurence. That tliev will let it he distinctly understood by the' Xgatiwhatua tribe, that anv one of their number who may be proved to be guilty of takinjj such revenue will not only be hanged himself, but that the whole tribe will be held responsible for his act That such an act on their part, will be held as declaratorv of war. and that the confiscation of their lands will follow as a consequence, lllil that thev will be driven forth as slaves nmong the NimH"- safety of our northern settlers demands that a tearless and plain exposition of the determination of the government to t-ike this stand for the preservation of law and order, shall be at once made. The body of Ruarangi. contrary to the usual custom pursued in other cases, when cut down, will wc learn, be delivered up to his people. "We do not know why the ordinary custom of the law should be departed from in this instance, indeed, we believe it may be productive of immense harm. The body will in all probability be taken up to Kaipara. the tribe will assemble, will hold a fimrri. many other natives too will be present, and the consequences niav be. that exciting themselves to an ungovernable pitch of frenzy, the young men niav be •ruilty of acts which may set the whole north in a blaze. The bodies of executed criminals arc buried within the precincts of the gaol. A.re there to be two laws —one for the Maori. and another for the European ? Wc hope not.