New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, June 19, 1850.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 509, 19 June 1850, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, June 19, 1850.

Through the kindness of Captain Tinley of the William Alfred we have received a Sydney Morning Herald of June 6, containing English news to the 19th February, and a Melbourne Paper with news to 6th March, our extracts embrace the most important particulars including an account of the opening of Parliament, the Queen's Speech, and Lord John Russell's statement of the Colonial policy intended to be pursued by the British Government. The news had been brought to Sydney by the ship Qsprey which had made a quick passage of one hundred and one days ; on the passage she had spoken the Poictiers, from London bound for this Port, March 16 in lat. 19*35, long. 24*47 west; she may therefore be daily expected. Mr. Sydney Stephen, the newly appointed Judge of Otago, is a passenger by the William Alfred.

Execution; — On Monday morning the last sentence of the law was executed on the prisoner William Good, convicted at the last sittings of the Supreme Court of the wilful murder of John Ellis on board the General Palmer, Since his conviction we understand the prisoner's demeanour has been quiet and resigned, and he devoted a considerable portion of his time in reading

religious works, and in preparing for the awful change that awaited him. Shortly after eight o'clock the procession reached the scaffold, which was erected on Cook's Mount immediately in front of the brick wall of the gaol ; the prisoner was pale, and it was evident a great change had taken place in his appearance since his trial. " The Rev. J. J. P. O'Reily, who was in attendance on the prisoner since he announced his intention of dying in the Catholic faith, (he having been brought up in the Protestant religion) spoke from the platform to the multitude who had congregated to witness the awful scene, in nearly the following words :—": — " Dearly beloved brethren, this poor creature, whom you now see before you, is about to make an atoning sacrifice to the offended laws of his country, in a few short minutes he will be launched into the boundless ocean of eternity, there to stand in the presence of his all Blessed God and Maker, and from whom he humbly hopes to receive pardon, grace, and mercy through the all-per-vading influence of our Saviour's blood. . In the Holy Catholic Church .whatsoever is sacramcntally committed to her Minister, is inviolably kept secret, but there are occasions in wbicb the rights of God require even public satisfaction, but yet this could not be given by the minister of religion if debarred of so doing by the individual who committed his secrets to him ; in the present instance, this poor creature has given the freest and fullest power to me to confess again before you, that he and he alone committed the fatal murder of John Ellis, he therefore acknowledges the justice of his sentence, and has nothing more to say of any other matters. He dies thoroughly repentant, and leaves this sinful and chequered scene without a sigh for this earthly life, but with an ardent aspiration for that life which passeth not away. He earnestly entreats your forgiveness and your prayers, and returns his dying thanks to all who have ministered kindness to him. And now beloved brethren permit me to remind you that there are other sins, equally as murder, which exclude the Kingdom of Heaven. The inspired apostle teaches us, in speaking to the people of Corinth, ' know you not, that the unjust shall not possess the Kingdom of God; do not err, neither f'onicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor unclean persons, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the Kingdom of God. 1 Now which cf us laying his' hand upon his conscience, cait truly say that he has not committed some one of these crimes, thus excluding himself from this blessed Kingdom of God. It thus behoves us to thoroughly repent of our sins. We see before us a remarkable example of thorough and sincere repentance, let us too seek for pardon at that mercy seat of God by a sincere repentance, and let us be mindful, that it takes cognizance of crimes, of which human and fallible tribunals know nothing." The prisoner then joined with the rev. gentleman in the following prayer : ' O my God and my all, I accept of death as a homage and adoration which I owe to thy Divine Majesty, and as a punishment justly due to my sins ; I unite my death with that of my dear Redeemer and most precious Saviour, and I cheerfully undergo it, as the ouly means of coming to Thee ! My beginning and last end, I firmly believe all the sacred truths which the Catholic Church beheveth and teacheth, because Thou my God hast revealed them ; as a stray sheep I have been gathered into the womb of this all-saving Motfter, never having before known her treasures and consolations for the wearied and broken-hearted sinner ! Oh !my God and my Ail ! Thee and thy mercy will I confess with my last breath. I believe in thee ! I hope in thee ! and love thee ! Lord Jesus receive my spirit. Sweetest Mother of Jesus, and all ye Saints in Heaven, intercede in prayer to God for me, a wretched sinner. Amen." The prisoner then walked with a firm step to the front of the scaffold, and the executioner, (a black man who arrived in the colony about two years ago) having adjusted the rope round hia neck the drop fell, and a few short struggles terminated the prisoner's existence. A great number of persons were present at the execution, including several from, the country districts. There were several maories also' in the crowd.