THE WATRAU MASSACRE, TABLETS IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 831, 17 October 1865, Page 3

THE WATRAU MASSACRE, TABLETS IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN.

Two neat tablets in memory of Captain Wake field and of those who foil with him at the Wairau Massacre have just been placed one on each side of the choir of Christchurch, Nelson. They are made of white Carrara marble, surrounded with a border of black marble. The first bears the following inscription : — To the Memory of Arthur Wakefield, CoaiMAITD'EH, R.N., WHO PLANTED THE SETTLEMENT OF NELSON. Obtit 17 of June, 1843, jet. svje 43. The inscription on the opposite slab is as under:— In Memory of THOSE WHO FELL AT THE WAIRAU.. I7fh June, 1843. The subjoined letter on the subject, from Mr. Felix Wakefield, brother of Captain Wakefield, has been handed to us for publication : — " Burnham, Nelson, " 14th, October, 1865. " Dear Sir, —As you, and that good man, the Rev. Samuel Ironside, in the face of great danger buried the remains of those who fell at the Wairau, I -would ask you to take charge of two tablets to their memory for erection in the Church at Nelson. " When I n?ade Nelson my residence, now some twelve months since, there appeared no disposable fund wherewith to meet the expense of a religious record of a great calamity. I therefore, took upon myself to order two tablets to relieve this Province (which my father and family had always cherished) from grave reflection ; and not from any desire to put myself forward unsolicited to perform what had been neglected far too long. " It appears that there is now a disposable fund to defray the cost of the erection of these tablets ; and I deem you the proper person, as the Member of the Provincial Council who has exerted himself most when any action could be got upon the subject, to take charge of these memorials. " I remain, dear Sir, " Very faithfully yours, " F. Wakefield. " Mr. Robert Burn, M.P.C., " Nelson."