EXECUTION OF FIVE MAORIS FOR THE MURDERS OF FULLOON AND VOLKNER.

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 107, 1 June 1866, Page 3

EXECUTION OF FIVE MAORIS FOR THE MURDERS OF FULLOON AND VOLKNER.

[From the Daily Southern Cross, of May 18.] Horomona Poropiti, and Mikaere Kirimangu were hanged at the Mount Eden Stocknde, yesterday, for the murders of Mr. Fulloon and a seaman, " Neil," of the ' Kate ;' and Mokomoko, Heremita Knhupaea, and Hakaraia te Rahui were hanged for the murder of the Rev. C. S. Volkner. We fervently hope that this awful tragedy may close the many terrible events of the last three years m New Zealand. Much has been said and written of the justice or injustice of punishing the shocking crimes committed by the natives since the slaughter at Oakura, as murders ; and we believe that the majority of the colonists condemn the Government for issuing the proclamation by which pardon was proclaimed to the perpetrators of all but a few of these murderers. At all events, we have not erred on the score of over-severity. But every one could see that this yielding to what was considered to be the native idea of what was war, and what murder, must stop somewhere. No one, either native lor European, ever said that the hanging of Mr. Volkner on the willow tree at Opotiki was aught but a murder of the most fearful atrocity. The slaughter of the passengers and crew of the ' Kate,' at Whakatane, was also an event which the utmost strength of merciful feeling could not look on as an act of war. For these two crimes five Maoris yesterday suffered the penalty of death, and may the lesson be rightly read by the native race. On Wednesday afternoon the condemned men were visited by Mr. George Graham, who received from Hakaraia and Heremita a distinct acknowledgment that they were guilty of the death of) Mr. Volkner, and deserved to die. Mokomoko solemnly protested his innocence, and gave a narrative of the events at Opotiki nearly m the following words: — "Wepiba, Kereojw, and Patara we heard were coming to Opotiki at the head of a war party. I lived at some distance from Opotiki, and never raised my hand or voice against any European. We were afraid of the war party, and left our settlement, which was on the road by which they were to pass, and came to Opotiki. When Wepiba and Kereopa came to o|>otiki, they destroyed Mr. Volkner's house, and stole his property. Wepiha took six horses, and the greater part of the money realised by the sale of the effects. I was present at the meeting held m the church to consult as to the hanging of Mr. Volkner. That was on the same day he was killed. I was standing by the door of the church, looking m. Kereopa said, 'Give up all the European prisoners tome.' The Whakotohea did not consent. Kereopa said, ' Let there be no chiefs over the tribes ; but listen to me; listen to the words of the god.' The Whakatohea wished to save all the Europeans. Wepiha then stood up with his taiaha m his hand, and said, * Volkner must be given over to Kereopa, as an offering to his god.' They then called for their armed parties. That was all T heard, as I went away to my settlement. I did not see Mr. Volkner hung. I did not see the person who hung him. It was only when the half-caste Eparaima escaped from the sailors of the ' Eclipse' that I heard the names of those who committed the crime. I had no rope. I heard that Wi Hura had a rope. I was only m the church when Wepiha consented to Mr. Volkner's being hung by Kereopa. Tiwai was anxious to save the Europeans. Then Kereopa said to him, ' If you attempt to save, you will be killed.' I advised Tiwai to leave the settlement, and come to Auckland." As we said m yesterday's paper, the foregoing statement was said by Heremita and Hakarair to be correct It will be remembered that Wepiha was the principal witness against Mokomoko, and it is saidthat for years past there have been disputes between them as to land.

Mokomoko had never been baptised, and on Wednesday evening that rite was performed on him m his cell by the Rev Mr. Baker, after lengthened conversations on religion. Horomona and Mokomoko made their wills, and the others wrote letters to their friends. Mokomoko frequently spoke of his innocence, and said several times. "If you could get one European to saythat I had anything to do with the rope that hung Mr. Volkner, "I would gladly die." Horomona said " I gave no directions at Whakatana that the Europeans should be killed; all I wanted was peace." Horomona frequently said he could not see why the Governor had resolved to bang him, while he took Te (7a about the country. When told that Te Ua had not committed any act of murder, nor instigated any, so far as known, Horomona said, "*' I-.bave not committed any." The Rev. Mr. Grace contmttedwith the unfortunate men till eight o'clock on Wednesday night, and at that hour he and Father MacDolald left the gaol. Throughout the night the cells were occasionally visited by Mr. Tuckwell, who states that all the prisoners slept, and some of them for a great part of the night. When the morning dawned, they got up and prayed. Father Mac Donald and d Ackerniann arrived at the goal about six o'clock, and the Eev. Dr. Maunsell at seven. Mr. George Graham also came at daylight, and to him Mokomoko said that he hoped the Ngatiawas would not profit by his death, by getting possession of bis hind. He again asserted his innocence of the death of Mr. Volkner. He was very anxious that his body should be given up to his relatives. On this matter, we understand that several natives now m Auckland, who tare connected with Mokomoko, on the day before yesterday made application to the Sherifftohavethe body given to then? immediately after the execution. They urged that m several cases the bodies of European malefactors had been given tip, and instanced the recent case of Stack. The Sheriff, we understand refused, telling the applicants of the excitement which

had been caused m Kaipara when the body of Ruarangi was taken there. They were much disappointed, but said they would apply to the Government, and get the body. This denial was of course kept secret from'Mokomoko, who died m the hope that his body might not be buried within the gaol. AH the five said they were quite ready to die. Kirimangu has spoken but little since his doom was fixed. He was apparently m the last stage of consumption, and was attenuated to a degree that those who did not see him could hardly credit. About half-past seven o'clock, the two Protestants, who were to be executed at eight o'clock, were called to the entrance of the corridor, to have their irons knocked off Horomona quickly came. The persons within the gaol assembled m front of. him while Mr. Scotter took off the chains, and the old Prophet recognised several persons, and held out his hand to Mr. Hamilton, phrenologist, who some time ago examined hishead. Horonoma, saluted all the people several times, and looked up to the crowd that were standing on a part of the hill that commanded a view of the prison-yard. After him came Mokomoko, who appeared much excited. His features seemed distorted with his emotions, and thg muscles of his face were twitching m a way'painfttl to look at. He saluted the people much m the same way, and returned to bis cell to pray. At a few minutes before eight o'clock, one of the executioners left the room m which they had stayed during the morning, and remained m the corridor into which the cells opened, m readiness to pinion the condemned men. At eight o'clock the Sheriff went to the cells, and Horonoma was brought out by Mr. Tuckvi eIL He was rapidly pinioned, Dr. Maunsell reading prayers beside him the while, and he making the responses. The same was done with Mokomoko, and both stepped out of the corridor. The Prophet kept praying m a steady monotonous tone, but Mokomoko. as soon as he got out, cried excitedly, "Tena koutou, na pakeha ! " Then turning to the range of cells m which were the prisoners whose sentences have been commuted, "Hei konei ra, c te iwi ! " He then looked around on the green slopes of Mount Eden that were lighted up with the morning suulight, and said, "Hei kenei ra, etc ao marutna!" ("Salutations, pakehas;" " I leave you, my people ;" 1 leave you, world of light") Both then walked quickly to the scaffold, Horomona praying earnestly. When they had got on to the scaffold, Mokomoko continued to speak to the assembly, " Tena koutou, na pakeha." Horomona stopped m his prayer, and, turning to his companion said, "He aha koe te inoi ai V — (Why do yon not pray ?) Mokomoko answered, " Hei aha tena?" — (What is the use of it ?) — and when Horomona resumed his prayer, Mokomoko cried out loudly, "He aha! he aba!" Then, calming down somewhat, he said, "Hei konei ra, pakeha ma ; tenei ahau c mate hara kore ! kahore 1 tika takn matenga !" — (Farewell, you pakehas 2 I die without a crime ; it is not right I should die.) During this time the executioner was adjusting the ropes, and strapping the legs of both men ; and Horomona was praying ex tempore m most appropriate language, apparently unmoved by the conduct of Mokomoko. Dr. Maunsell stood between them on the scaffold. At length the bolt was drawn, and both fell heavily, being weighty men. Horomona seemed to die at once, and Mokamoko apparently suffered but little. It was a quarter past eight o'clock by this time; and shortly after, the other three, who were attended by the Roman Catholic priests, came out to get their irons off. They did not speak, but were evidently agitated by intense emotion. Kirimangu looked ghastly m the extreme, and seemed hardly able to stand. The convict yard, where the scaffold was erected, was cleared of all except the warders and police, while a second executioner put the three ropes on the beam. The bodies of Horomona and Mokomoko were lowered into the coffins prepared for them, and carried into the outer yard of the gaoL Three empty coffins were then put under the scaffold. These preparations were completed about a qnarter past nine o'clock, when the Sheriff went to the cells. Heremita and Hakaraia came at once when called, but Kirimaagu seemed loth to come to his death. He stumbled feebly out of the cell at last, and went abreast of the other two, who had halted m the yard for him to come up. Heremita and Hakaraia devoutly responded to the prayers of the Father, but Kirimangu aeemed almost unable to open his lips. When they got on the scaffold, Hakaraia bowed repeatedly to the people, saying, " Tena koutou, na pakeha." Heremita followed his example, and bowed several times. Kirimangu shut his eyes, and seemed m some danger of falling from mere weakness, swaying to and fro while the rope was round his neck. When all was ready, Father Mac Donald presented the cross to Hakaraia, who kissed it eagerly, as did Heremita. the Father then pressed the cross to the pallid lips of Kirimangu, and stepped off the drop, which almost instantly felL Hakaraia and Heremita being heavy men, hung lifeless m a few seconds, but Kirimangu, from being so light, struggled for five minutes. The hangman was send for, and extinguished life by three vigorous pulls on the legs of the unfortunate man. At the expiration of an hour, the bodies were put m the coffins, which were placed m a row, and the names of the occupants chalked on them.

Several natives were inside the goal, but they apjtarently felt unable to witness the scene of death. One only saw the execution of the last three men. Immediately after the three bodies had been lowered, and the coffins taken away, several workmen commenced to take down the scaffold. The convicts, amongst whom are the natives whose sentences have been commuted, were admitted into the yard, and Te Hura and the others looked sadly on .the scaffold, where men had perished whose guilt was little, if at all, greater than their own. We may mention that the five men spoke gratefully to Mr. TuckwelL who, indeed, has shown them every kindness that could be done without infringing the rules of the prison. We have heard several of the natives, whose sentences have been commuted, speack of their liking for Mr. Tuckwell : and when the tangi was finished on Wednesday evening, and the natives had relieved their feelings, some one of them proposed to give a cheer for him, but the demonstration was at once checked.

A number of the police were present as a guard m the prison.