THE MAUNGATAPU MURDERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 101, 2 July 1866, Page 2

THE MAUNGATAPU MURDERS.

FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS. Yesterday the mortal remains" of Messrs. Kempthorne, Mathieu, Dudley, and Pontius, were interred in Nelson Cemetery, in presence of several thousand persons who accompanied the funeral cortege there. Soon after two o'clock the procession left the Provincial Government Buildings in the following order. First proceeded a, funeral carriage containing two of the bodies, escorted by Sergeant Edwards and . a body of police. A second carriage followed with two other bodies, followed by Sergeant-Major Shallcrass and the Rev. Messrs. Johnstone and M'Cleau, and escorted by police. A carriage containing the chief mourners, followed immediately after. Theu came the members of the Search Committee on foot, followed by the Volunteers who were enrolled under their superintendence, for the purpose of searching for the bodies. Horsemen came after in great numbers, and a great many carriages^ in which were the principal inhabitants of the town. His Honor the Superintendent, the members of the Executive, the clergy and the medical profession joined the mournful cortege. Several thousand persons were in the procession, at the cemetery, or on the eminences from which a sight of the proceedings could be witnessed. . When the funeral cortege reached the cemetery the bodies were carried to their last resting place by 24 of the volunteers of the search party. The solemn service of the English Church was read by the Rev. G. H. Johnstone, aud a feeling of deep solemnity appeared to pervade the assembled multitude. The greatest sympathy was manifested for the distressed mourners, who evinced the bitterest anguish as they took a last look at the coffins which contained the bodies of those who were so dear to them, and who were struck down by the hands of foul assassins in an unexpected moment, and when they had reason to count on many years of life aud happiness. No expression of regret could have been more spontaneous and deep felt tban that which was exhibited by the people of Nelson yesterday, and it is devoutly to be hoped that as it is the first tragedy of the kind which has aroused so much fear, aucl caused so much regret, so it will be thei last instance in which law will be so daringly violated, and the peace of society so fearfully imperilled. After the funeral a deputation of the Volunteer Search Party waited on tbe Committee, .and informed them it was their intention to decline accepting Mr. Kempthorne's offer of a reward of £200. Mr. Kempthorne, who appeared quite overpowered by the generous conduct, of the deputation, expressed his unfeigned thanks for their generosity in refusing a reward for their self-denying labors. He expressed his opinion that, independently of the information given by Sullivan, the searchers would have certainly come upon the bodies. He thanked them for the unflagging energies they had displayed in the face of such great difficulties, which could not readily be understood by persons having no idea of the country where the search was prosecuted. On behalf of himself and those who had no friends here to represent, their wishes, he cordially thanked, the Volunteer Searchers for their great exertions and disinterested conduct. He trusted they would now be able to retunr io their peaceful ayocations. with a sense' of security justified by the knowledge! that the monsters who had murd-

ered so many persons were secure in .the hands of justice; He trusted the blessing of the Almighty would attend them in Jbeir future career in life, and that their peaceful labors would be followed by a rich reward. Dr. Williams replied in the name of the Search Committee, and thanked the Volunteer Searchers for the great energies they had displayed, and the great sacrifices they had made in searching for the bodies. By the discovery of the bodies -the crime had been traced home to the assassins now in custody, and the divine testimony vindicated that " whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." It was a striking illustration of another sacred truth, " vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." Thanks to the noble efforts of the parties employed in this painful search, it was clearly proved that the wholesale murderer of his fellow creatures could not escape from justice. The noble conduct of the Volunteers would be appreciated, not only in the province of Nelson and the colony generally, but throughout the Australias, the British Empire, and the civilised world, where the information wonld be conveyed iv various languages that great criminals could find no resting place in Nelson province. It was true that Nelson had been called a sleepy place, but it was now seen that, when occasion required it, public effort would be put forth, and the whole community would rise as one man when it became necessary to bring murderers to justice. Mr. Atkin thanked the deputation on behalf of himself and the Committee for the generous conduct they had shown. When the volunteers were asked if they wished to be paid for their services, they spumed the idea with indignation. Their conduct on this occasion was a sufficient answer to those who, ignorant of the character of the mining community, sometimes represented them as uufriendly to law and order. From his long acquaintance— with diggers he knew them to be an eminently orderly and peaceful body of men; and if any proof were wanting of this, it would be found in the recent conduct of the Nelson Volunteer Search party, Dr. Williams said his brother was ready to vindicate the character of the mining community generally who were all ready to pay for the provisions they required, aud equally determined to punish the loafers who brought discredit on their fair fame. Mr. Lockhart expressed his admiration, from personal knowledge of the general character of the miners. After some mutual compliments and congratulations on the snccess that had attended tha labors of the searching party, the deputation withdrew.