AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 710, 22 May 1852, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

Native Mbetino in support op Missions. — A large meeting of the native tribes, in the neighbourhood of Mr. Atkin3' station at Mungaruore, recently look place. This meeting, which was headed by the chiefs Parora and Titirou, was convened for the support and extension .of Wesleyan . Missions. The sum of £&5 was, we understand, collected from the natives present. — Southern Cross, April 30. Execution. — Yesterday morning, William Bowden (formerly a prisoner of the Crown in Van Diemen's Land), who was convicted at the March Criminal Session of our Supreme Court, of the wilful murder of John Dixon, underwent the last awful penalty of the law at the gaol, in Queen-street. The wretched man had maintained almost to the end a dogged and apparently unfeeling obstinacy; and during the night before his execution refused to receive? the spiritual counsel which the Rev. Mr. Churton anxiously and indefatigably waited to afford : but^yesterday morning, we are informed, he made some observations expressive . of contrition, and referred especially to the, 51st Psalm, as suited to his circumstances and feelings. The genuinaness of professions of repentance, made only in the immediate prospect of death, is always open to doubt ; still, there is s.omething gratifying in the fact, that the criminal did not actually die with the tokens of a hardened spirit, which he had previously manifested. The justice of the fatal sentence was universally admitted ; for, however some may maintain a theoretical opposition to all capital punishments, we have not heard an individual express any other opinion than that whatever should be the extreme penalty of the law ought to be inflicted in this case. — New Zealander, April 28.