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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 14, 5 July 1849, Page 3

A Military Execution.-At ten o'clock all the regiments received orders to prepare for marching. No drum was heard to give the signal, but messengers passed along, carrying their officers' orders for the troops. All the soldiers of tho garrison turned out in silence. The bands of the different regiments were commanded not to play. No funeral procession ever moved in such slo>v and measured time as they did on their nay to Mill Kill, the appointed place of execution. Each soldier looked down instead of forward as lie matched along, and not a sound could bp heard hut the slowly measured tramp of well-trained feet, as they ascended the side oftho hill. Every ofllcer was at his post. As the regiments arrived on tho flit ground near the old Moorish ruins, tliey were formed into o'nft Vast fetfnafo, with one side near the ruin's bank. Towards the centre of the square were two i>osts, with one cross bar, against which rested twelve rifles,'six 011 one side and b'ix on the other. Near the centre of the blank side of the square was a larga g'avi-, newly opened, and capable of holding the ten bodits

)f iho deserters. 'I lie men were all drawn u|> !ii repular order of attention ; the General Did his stall'ut the head of the square. The Prcivost Marshal was seen in earnest conversation with the Governor, and the troops remained stationary, and in dead silence for nearly half an hour. At length a single beat of a drum was heard, which was repeated once every minute, and the prisoners were seen descending along the high road from their rocky dungeons to the place of execution. All the soldiers watched them as they came. The solemn drum, speaking the death kncli of the criminals, told the mournful tragedy which was now to bo performed. They arrived at the appointed place, and saw their own graves open before their eyes. The priests of the different persuasions accompanied them 'to the fatal spot, the chaplain of the forces being with them. The prisoners descended t;wo and two. Dreadful did they all look, t'iioirfacca being more like those of corpses titan of living men. A paleness, indeed, was visible in the countenances of the. ~whole body of troops then assembled. He must be made of iron who could witness, unmoved, such a melancholy sight. The Provost Marshal read the sentence aloud; twelve men of the rifle brigade were then ordered up to the guns. The command was given that the prisoners were to be shot two at a time. Six soldiers were to fire at each man. The guns had been previously loaded ; only two in each six had ball cartridges in them, and none knew which they were. All, of course, had to take the best aim. Two of those supposed to be the ringleaders were first ordered for execution; one a Protestant, one a Romas Catholid. They shook hands with their r<. ■ spec live ministers, and with their wretched companion!. They were then led forward to the prescribed distance from the riflemen, and ordered to kneel down. They did so. A soldier then tied a handkerchief round one man's eyes, but the other sxclaimed—" Blind me not—let me look up as long as I can.'' He would not /submit to be blindfolded, but knelt and looked up to Heaven, his fine pale countenance presenting a perfect picture of , maoly resignation. The tears fell from his-] eyes as the Provost Marshal gave the word of j command—" Fire I"—and both were in- | stantaneou.'ly dead. All eyes were now turned , to the Provost Marshal, who was expected to ( pronounce the names of the two next culprits , who were to suffer, but what was the eur- , prise of every soldier to hear him read the , following proclamation : —"Soldiers, you have been condemned justly as deserters, and have seen the sentence carried into effect upon the , bodies ot' your ringleaders; hear now the pardon of your Governor. In the hope that justice has been answered, and that you will : never again be guilty of such another crime, you are spared from death, and are restored to your respective duties. Go, repent, and live." Description must fail in the attempt to portray the features of those lately despairing men. Some threw themselves flat on the ground for joy, not knowing what they did. They embraced one another; they kissed each other; they went down on their kneei, and sent up hallelujahs to the God of mercy*