EXECUTION OF RUARANGI AND OKEROA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 135, 19 April 1864, Page 4

EXECUTION OF RUARANGI AND OKEROA.

Yxstekdav morning these two convicts, the former sentenced for the murders of Mrs. Thompson and her daughter. lit Kuipara, and the latter for killing a Maori numed Wnitai. at the Bay of Islands, were executed within the gaol at the Mouut Eden Stockade, soou -after suinrise.

Although admission was granted only to about a dozen persons besides tSiose officially present, we were glad to see dint the expression <of public feeling ngnitist the execution of •criminals in seertr wa* so far regarded, that in the manner in vrLicU il.u Scaffold was erected two side views ofit were obtainable by the publie outside the prison walls. The ground rises iini mediately on either side of the. prison and between two and three hundred persons were ■collected in two groups, one ou either side to =>es tue execution of these two men.

At a quarter to six a party of a dozen of the armed police were drawn tip in double file between the Scaffold, and the pinioimng room, but some little delay arose from tlio difficulty of knocking oil" the rivet* of the prisoners irons, and in waiting for the arriva{ of the medical "man who had been appointed to witness the ceremony, aad give in a certificate of the actual death of the convicts, and it was fully half-past six •o'clock, when Euarnngi. preceded hy the Kevd. W. Baker reading the Church of England burial service in the Maori language, and attended by theltev«L T. Buddie and J. Wallis, appeared iii the Court yard of the gaol. Okeroa brought up the rear attended by the very Ivevd. Dr. iiacdonald, Y.G. The two convicts walked with firm steps to tlie foot of theSeaflbld and mounting the narrow stairs were at ouee ushered on to the drop. Their arms had bci-u pinioned above the elbows but the hands were loose and lUiarangi allowed iiis to drop into the pockets of Ms «.-oat as he stood upon the drop. The remainder of the burial service was read by the Clergyman while tlje process of tying the logs of the prisoners at the uncle with a piece of •cord was performed by the hangman, and quietly -submitted to. Two ropes had been previously tied to the same beam about six feet apart and about eight feet length of rope had been allowed liy the hangman. Whilst the rope had been adjusted around their necks and to the last moment, the Eevd. Mr. Buddie remained praying with Ruarangi and Dr. Mi-IXwald pressed the cross to the lips of Okeroa.. lluarangi remained possitive as ever in his assertions that he was innocent of the crime for which he had been convicted and at tie lust moment when the cap was about to be drawn over his face again repeated what he previously stated that the question now lay between himself and the girls (Thompsons), and that God would decide. Having shaken hands with the gailor and clergy the bolt was withdrawn and the two poor wretches fell with a heavy thud. The body of Okeroa swung for a moment with his hands iu the same position, laid camly iu one another, as when ho stood upon the drop. Uu.irangi died less easily, his body quivering convulsively fora space of two or three minutes his legs being drawn up and let down with a spasmodic effort fearful to witness.

Both men appeared calm, indeed Okeron. who was evidently idiotic and lias indeed been known to be so for this ten years past, appeared to be quite indifiretit to his fate. "We hear that to the last Okcroa gave no signs of intelligence, when his warrant was read to him he simply snid that he was going away with the priest, Dr. McDonald; indeed the only answer to tiny question put to him was " Epicopa McDonald." It would be wrong to say that he died either penitent, or impenitent, his reasoning faculties were not sutikk-ntly developed to enable the ministers of religion to inake_ any impression on his mind. iS'ot once since his incarceration has he been known to give an intelligent answer to any question put to him. It was not until the rope was fastened around his neck that he seemed to have any fixed idea that any harm was intended him. but from that moment till the drop tell he could be seeu to tremble. Those present before leaving the gaol signed a document to the effect that they had witnessed the due performance of the execution of these men, and a copy of the same will be gazetted for public information. Four native chiefs were present at the execution. Two from the Bay of Islands, TVircmu Te Tete, and Parata. I'uariri ; and two belonging to Jtimrnngi's tribe, J{eihana, and TVatcrhou.se.. The body of Jtuaraugi was to be delivered to them after the inquest, which took place yesterday afternoon.