LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1775, 9 June 1882, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[new ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Timaru, .Tune 8. The report of the committee of inquiry on the wreck and recent loss of life was to the effect that it arose from an unfortunate but well-meant attempt of Captain Mills to save the City of Perth, followed by a misconception on the part of Captain MacDonald. Captain Mills’ reason fur going off was caused by the miscarriage of a message. The report also states that it further appeared that the immediate cause of the loss of life was the upsetting of the third boat through “ inefficient hand* Hug.” Christchurch, June 7. The section of the Akaroa railway from Lincoln to Girdlings Flat, near Lake Forsyth, of 17 miles, was formally opened to-day. It has been ready for some time, but goods trains only have been run on it. Auckland, June 7. A man named Stephenson was wounded in the back by his young brother, who was playing with a pistol. He was unaware that it was capped and loaded. W. G. Wheeler, manager of the Working Men’s Club, is not expected to survive the injuries received while ejecting a man named Hagget, by request, from the club room, while obeying orders. Hagget seized the bannister railing, but on Wheeler pulling, he suddenly relaxed his hold, and both men fell down fourteen steps. Wheeler does not blame anyone for the accident. Peritonitis has set in. J. B. Strange, 80 years of age, and an old identity at Parnell, has died suddenly. Blenheim, June 6. Promoters’ shares in the Shark’s Bay Coal Mine, near Picton, are being readily taken up, and are now quoted at a premium of £ls. It is proposed to float a company with 60,000 shares to work the mine. THE LAST OF HIROKI. New Plymouth, June 8. j Hiroki, for the .murder.of M'Lean, at Momahnka, was executed in New Plymouth gaol this morning at 8 o’clock. Last night the prisoner enjoyed a quiet ua'ural sleep, but on awaking ibis morning the rocollec'ion of the solemn proceedings distressed him, and be wept somewhat finely. Re, however, r covered his composure shortly afterwards, and evinced a cheerful d sposition. Archdeacon Govett attended him. and was engaged for some time in spiritual devotions pievions to the convict bein</ taken to the gallows. The scaffold was erected in the nnith-west coroer of the prison, in front of (he ceils where Te Whiti and Tohn had been confined. Shortly after 8 o’clock (he 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 sign of emotion. He stepped forward to the spot indicated by the 1

executioner and stood firmly. The rope having been adjusted and the cap on, the last words of the burial service had scarcely been spoken when the drop fell and Hiroki disappeared out of sight. Death was instantaneous, as scarcely a muscle moved. HIROKI’S CONFESSION. Wellington, June 8. The following is Hiroki’s confession:— In January C. Brown and John Sheehan spoke about the land (when the latter ■was Native Ministei). At Momahaki I told M‘Lean, “ You had better not let any white man go on that land,” and told Mr Sheehan, “If 1 see you put white men on my land—that is survey Otakira—l warn you that I will kill them.” After that time 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'Lean’s brother that told me. Then I told them that they must not go on any farther. I told them that if they persisted going on surveying the land I would kill them all. They said to me, “ 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 if he would persist in coming, after me telling him not to come on the land, “ I will kill yon.” When I told M'Lean that, M'Leau sa’d, “ Never mind, you are a bloody pig.” I told him, “ I will kill you-all, but you will not know the time I will kill you (meaning any of you). In September I went to the place for the purpose 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 I meant something. I went towards the door of the tent. M'Lean stood in one end of the tent at the back. M‘Lean fired at me with a gun, and the ball wmit throngh my tight side as I in front of the door, but did not go through my body, only through my clothes, under my armpit. I caught his arm (gun) and pulled it away from him. I gut it from him, and M ‘Lean ran away, and I fired at him. That is what killed him, and he fell iu the water close to the river. It was a small river. I went away, and I took one sheet, some tobacco, and some bullets. That is all I ego remember taking. The reason I took them was to show the natives what I had Alone. [ told some of the witnesses that came to the trial what I had done. Some of them told the truth about ray killing the white man. I also told a good many of the Maori people when I went to Parihaka what I had done. I told about 50 of the natives; I told Te Whiti and other Maoris. Te Whiti knows all about what I had done, I did not keep it a secret from any of them. In reference to the Maoris that shot at me, that was quite right. It was after I c ime from John M'Lean, after killing him. The whole bother was alion t the land. I owned some of the laud that was there. While the men were surveying, s ims 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. The Court t< ld me that I could not speak if the lawyers had 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 dreamed the other night, as I told you.”