AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4241, 4 August 1882, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

, , This day. Winiata was executed this morning. He protested his innocence to the last.

Winiata stepped out of his cell and walked firmly towards the scaffold, aodding to the sheriff and spectators. The Eev. Mr Wallis, who has been with him since the trial, ascended the scaffold with the murderer, and repeated prayers for the dying. Winiata said :—" Friends, Europeans, I am going to give my body to be killed. Listen to me all you. My hands did not kill that European. This Is the end of •my bcdy. I hare now, a word to say to God" (raising his eyes to heaven, he continued) "I am delirering my soul into Thy hands, remember me when I came unto Thy Kingdom. This is all I have to say." The cap was then adjusted over bis head, and on a signal from the sheriff, the executioner drew the bolt. The scaffold was so constructed that immediately ihe drop was drawn, the criminal disappeared from the sight of the spectators, all the lower portion of the scaffold being boarded up. On examination the nieok was found to hare

been broken, the head hanging back. The doctors state signs of life were visible for eight- minutes after hanging. After- half, an hour the body was taken down and placed on a coffin at the foot of the .scaffold, and a formal inquest held. No person claiming the ' body, the Coroner ordered it to be buried within the 'precincts of the gaol. The executioner was a convict about 24 years of age, of short stature and stout build, He is said to have executed Hirbki, VPalsb, and Ah Lee in the colony, and three murderers in New South Wales.

On Monday last the schooner Elizabeth Curie, 79 tons, bound from Lyttelton to Auckland, went ashore at Cuirer Island, sear the Great Barrier, and became a wreck. No lives were lost. It appears when off the Island the wind died away, and the vessel drifted towards the shore. 45 fathoms af cable were run out, but. did not hold, and she went on the rocks. The crew went ashore in a boat, and after repairing it returned to the site of the wreck, and found the vessel bad entirely disappeared. They then proceeded to the Barrier, took in provisions, and arrived here after a passage of 36 hours. The vessel belonged to F. Jenkins, of Lyttelton, and £400 had recently been f pent in repairs. The vpssel was uninsured, but there was £75 on the freight.

Later. It has been ascertained that the Elizabeth Carle is insured as follows :—South British, £250 ; Zealand, £275 ; National, £250; Union, £100.