The Trial And Execution Of Maroro The Murderer.

The trial of this unhappy man took place on the 13th and 14th ult., before his Honor Judge Chapman. The evidence was wholly circumstantial, and consisted chiefly of the following facts:—Maroro was seen asking the way to Branks’ house on the day before the murder—on the morning of the murder, at or before the time it was discovered, Maroro told a native in Wellington that a white man and three children were murdered on the Porirua-road —Maroro had in his possession the watch and other property belonging to Branks—and his own clothes were stained with blood. The Jury returned a verdict of guilty, and he was sentenced to death; he was executed on the morning of the 17th, in front of the Gaol. The natives attended the execution in great numbers; they all appeared to concur heartily in the punishment, and to feel that a serious aspersion had been wiped away from their character,

After his sentence he fully confessed his guilt—said that he had no accomplices—that he had no previous ill-will to Branks, but was actuated by a desire to revenge his four months imprisonment, and to obtain the watch and other property. If this confession, as to the motives, be true—although, from the way in which the prisoner all along falsified and prevaricated, we frankly confess we have little faith in his statements—it originates a grave question for the Government. How are natives to be dealt with after being released from imprisonment? If every, or any native, be disposed to carry out the old native practice of exacting utu or payment from any one in the tribe which they suppose has injured them, no white man's life is safe. It will always be the worst class of natives, generally the most ignorant, and those most attached to their old vindictive customs, that will be exposed to the punishment of imprisonment, and consequently the most dangerous when again released. There is certainly a peculiarity in the case, requiring page 263 the special attention of the authorities. Might it not be safe to require the chiefs of the tribe to which any prisoner may belong, to become sureties for his future good behaviour? No prudent precautions ought to be omitted. We are, however, no alarmists; we have had ample opportunities of observing the marked and steady improvement in religion and civilization that is going on among the natives, and their friendly feeling towards the colonists. The quarterly returns show the very small proportion of native prisoners—often none at all. We have the utmost confidence in the divine protection—“He that keepeth Israel neither slumbereth nor sleepeth.” “All things work together for good to them that love God.” If we are found in the path of duty, if we are found in Christ, no real evil can overtake us; even death, in its most revolting aspect, will be only the messenger of peace to call us home to heaven. We have great confidence in the moral effect upon the natives of the just administration of the laws; and the kind, friendly, and conciliating spirit that has been uniformly displayed toward them by the settlers. Strict justice, mingled with kindness, will command the confidence and respect of savage as well as civilized men. Our earnest prayer is, that this fearful example of extreme justice may be rendered effectual by God, for striking terror into the heart of every vindictive man, whether native or European—that God may effectually restrain the wicked passions of the ungodly—and that every one may learn to repress the first motions of vindictive feeling; for “when evil desire hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

Opening Of Thorndon Chapel.—

The Chapel on Thorndon Flat formerly occupied by the Congregationalists, has been purchased and repaired by the Wesleyans at an expense of about £70. It was opened on Sabbath the 8th nit. It is to be used, both as a Chapel and a School-room. Mr. Tomlin will occupy it as formerly with his week-day and Sabbath Classes. We should have regretted much if this building had been devoted to any other purpose than that for which it was originally erected, religion and education. God says “In all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.” We regard it as a token for good to any locality when public worship is set up and regularly observed in it—when God's Word is publicly read and preached, his praises celebrated, and prayers and supplications presented before his throne—when all classes can enjoy the means of Grace, and when the elements of a Scriptural and general education can be obtained by the young. “They shall prosper that love Zion”

The Licensing Day.—

The licenses for the sale of intoxicating drinks were granted on the 17th ult. With mere secular politics, general or party, we never intermeddle, but on every act magisterial or not, that affects the public morals, we consider ourselves at liberty to express our opinion. We have been congratulating the inhabitants of Thorndon Flat on the re-opening among them of a house where God is to be worshipped, and general instruction communicated. Some time ago, we congratulated the page 264 inhabitants of Te Aro on the opening of a new Church there. We have now to lament that under the sanction of the law, and the paternal care of the Government, a house is to be opened among them for a very different purpose. An old divine has said, “Wherever God has a Church, Satan will there have a Synagogue,” and an old poet has rendered the sentiment in verse thus:-

“Wherever God erects a House of prayer,
The Devil always builds a Chapel there;
And ‘twill be found upon examination,
The latter has the largest congregation.”

Sacrificing the good of the many to the interests of the few,— acceding to the importunity of self-interest and private gain, but indifferent to the publicly expressed protest of some two-thirds of those residing or holding property in the neighbourhood,—a majority of our worshipful Justices, in the exercise of their collective wisdom, have given their solemn sanction, that for the next twelve months, that House in Abel Smith-street, formerly occupied by the Rev. S. Ironside, and latterly by Mr. James Smith, may not only be occasionally haunted, but constantly occupied by “evil Spirits,” and be employed Sabbath and Saturday as a manufactory of drunkards (we speak plain English, and call things by their proper names,)—that as many of the Queen's troops on Mount Cook, and the simple, unsuspecting lieges on Te Aro, as can be legally caught by the improved patent man-traps, may be subjected to the process of intoxication, (which literally means poisoning, but being clothed in high sounding Greek, the idea is stripped of its vulgarity and becomes classical,^*) that when thoroughly metamorphosed into drunkards, they may be turned loose at all hours of the day, and as many of the night as can be done conveniently, to annoy the peaceable and well-doing of her Majesty's subjects; so that—if history teaches any lessons, if the same causes, under the same circumstances, will always produce the same effects—from being a quiet and respectable neighbourhood, it will become low, noisy, and disreputable; the better class of tenants will be driven away, property will be depreciated, the moral atmosphere will become tainted, crime will be fostered, ignorance and ungodliness will be encouraged, and the blessings of religion and education will, to a great extent, be neutralized. Paul tells us that we are not to be afraid of the Power, that he is the Minister of God for good, “Do that which is good,” he says, “and thou shalt have praise of the same.” “They are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.” But, our Guardians of the Peace seem, in the present instance, to have acted as if it had been their bounden duly to prove themselves to be a “Praise to evil-doers, and a terror 10 them that do well.”

Printed at the Office of the "Wellington Independent," corner of Willis Street and Lambton-quay.