New Zealand Specatator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 387, 18 April 1849, Page 2

New Zealand Specatator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN.

Saturday, April 14, 1849.

The space occupied by the concluding por* tion of the report of Maroro's trial has obliged us to defer to our next number our observations on this subject.

Since Maroro's conviction, we understand he has made a statement to the effect that the murders were committed, not by himself, but by-Ko' Mania, on his return from Porirua, after having taken the mail, and that he gave him the watch to dispose of. The statement, on investigation, proves to be untrue, so far as Ko Mania is concerned. It is ascertained that on the 22nd March (on the night of which the murder was committed) Ko Mania started very early in the morning with a letter from the Lieutenant-

Governor to the Bishop of New Zealand, and returned shortly before 5 o'clock in the evening to the Police Station at Kumutoto, where he remained all night: now Mr. Drake, on the trial, stated he saw Branks last on Thursday evening between 5 and 6 o'clock. It is probable that Maroro ascertained from Ko Mania, in his conversation with him on the 23rd, he had been to Porirua the previous day, and made this the foundation of his statement.*^ The execution is tb take place on Thursday, at Te Aro, outside the Gaol. We have since heard that Maroro has made a full confession of his guilt, the particulars of which we doubt not will shortly be made public.

The half-yearly inspection of troops will take place this day, when there will be a review of the 65th regiment by LieutenantColonel M'Cleverty, the officer commanding in the Southern Province, and LieutenantColonel Gold commanding the regiment, at Thorndon at 11 o'clock.