Meeting of Executive Council. (BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENTS,) Dunedin, February 8.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 191, 12 February 1887, Page 8

Meeting of Executive Council. (BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENTS,) Dunedin, February 8.

The Executive Council met here to day to take into consideration the recommendation of the jury in the Great Barrier c^e, and also petitions received from Auckland praying for commutation of the death penalty passed upon the convict?, Caftrey and Perm. Besides His Excellency the Governor, Hon. Messrs Reynolds and Larnach were present. Tho meeting was somewhat protracted, as Mr Justice Ward had sent very lengthy notes of his opinion of the case, and Minister* vow at Wellington and elsewhere had also forwarded written communications on tho subject, all of which had to be considered. After the fullest consideration tho Executive Council couli see no ground that would justify them in exercising the prerogative of mercy. It was therefore resolved to allow the law to take its course. Tha Council had next to fix the dato of the double execution, and it v/as settled that the ghastly final© to the tragedy should bo enacted on Monday, 21st February (thie day fortnight). Instructions will at once bo forwarded to the officers of the law to make preparations, and the doomed men will a.so be infcormed of tho findiug of the Executive without delay, so that they may in.iulgo no ialse hopes of reprieve