EXECUTION OF HIROKI, THE MURDERER.

Colonist, Volume XXVI, Issue 3482, 15 June 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXECUTION OF HIROKI, THE MURDERER.

[PflEsa Association Teiegbam.] | NEW PLYMOUTH. Juno 7. It is stated that Hiroki's wife visited him a few days -ago.- After showing marked sympathy for her 'husband, she began to übpraid him for trusting inTe Whiti, and asserted that his blind trust had landed him in his present position. He could see now, wheu too late, that Te Whiti could not save him. It is also stated that Hirolri had a dream about a week ago in which he imagined he had found' mutton/ fish, but' they were only empty; shells. He was ; deeply impressed by this dream, and stated that it, was an ill

omen, and said that eight days from that ■ date he would, be executed. Archdeacon, ; Govett has attended the prisoner and ad- ■ ministered spiritual consolation to him, and' '■, Hirolu appears tojbe feryenj in his. devotions.' There will only be a few spectators present to-morrow at the execution. . ■„ June 8. Hirolri,, for the murder of M'Lean, was executed in New- Plymouth gaol this morning at 8 o'clock. Last night the prisoner enjoyed a quiet natural sleep, hut on waking this morning the recollection of .the ; solemn proceedings disturbed him, and he wept somewhat freely, lie, however, recovered his > composure shortly afterwards, and showed !a: ! cheerful- disposition. Archdeacon Govett attended, and was engaged some time in spiritual devation previous to his being taken; to the gallows. The scaffold was erected in the north-east corner of the prison in front of the cells where Te, Whiti and Tohu were confined. Shortly after eight o'clock the prisoner was' brought out from his cell and pinioned in the usual manner. He ascended the scaffold with a firm step, and although his countenance was pallid, he betrayed no other signs of emotion. He stepped forward to the spot indicated by the executioner and stood firmly. The rope having been adjusted and the cap put on, the last words of the burial service had scarcely been spoken when the drop fell and Hiroki disappeared from sight. Death was instantaneous, as scarcely a muscle even moved. The following is Hiroki's confession:—" In January, C. Brown and John Sheehan spoke about the land, when the latter was Native Minister, at Mohaki. I told M'Lean, ' You had not better let any white man go on that land.' I told Mr Sheehan, 'If I see you put white men on my land' (that is surveyors) ' at Otakari, I warn them that I will kill them.' After that timo some more white men came on to survey the land. I asked them, ' Who told you to come on my land?' They said it was the Government—it was M'Leans brother that told me; then I told them they must not go on any further k I told them that if they persisted going on surveying the land I would kill them .' They said to me We never mind what you say.' I told them to go home, and they went away home; the next day they came back again. |'I and another maori went to the place. I told M'Lean that' Yon would per3i6t in coming after me telling you not to come on to the land. I will kill you.' When I told him that M'Lean said, 'Never mind; you are a bloody pig.' I told him,' I will kill you all, but if you do not know the time I will kill you (meaning any of you) in September ; I went to the place with tha intention of killing any of them that I found there on the land. As I was going up to the place,where they camped at the tent, I saw John M'Lean looking towards me,. When he saw me he went into the tent, for he knew that I meant something. I went toward the door of the tenfc. M'Lean stood in one ot the tents at the back. Ho fired at me with a gun, and the ball went through my right side, as I stood in front of the door, hut it did not go through my body, only my clothes under my armpit. I caught hold of his gun and pulled it away from him. I got it from him, and M'Lean ran away, and I fired at him That is what killed him, and he.fell in the water close to tiie river—it was a small river, I went away, and I took one sheet, some tobacco, and some bullets ; that is all I can remember taking. The reason, I took them was to show the natives what I had done. I told some of the witnesses that came to the trial what I had done. Some of them told tho truth about my killing tha white man. I also told a good many of the Maori people when I went to Parihaka what I had done ; I told about fifty of the natives. I told To Whiti and other Maoris. Te Whiti knew all about what I had done. I did not keep it a secret from any of them. The whole bother was about the land. I owned some land that was there. While the men were surveying some of the pigs that were mine were killed. I think I have told you all. I should have told you this before if I had been asked at my trial. I asked at the Court when I was to talk, and was told that I could not speak if the lawyer had not done speaking. I was waiting for them to ask me. I was not , asked till I saw the Judge putting on the black cap, and passed a sentence on me.: I hope that you will telegraph this to the Government about the matter at once. I know" I have only four more days to live, as I dreamt the other night as I told you."