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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 10, Issue 632, 1 August 1866, Page 3

Yesterday, a novel rite 'Wris performed in tlie Hokitika river, at a spot opposite the Kanieri township. Eour persons, of whoin two were fomales, were publicly baptised by immersion.' Steps are being taken for the erection of a Congregational Church.— ‘ West Coast Times,’ July Ifi.

THE MAUNGATAFU MURDERS. Speaking of these, the‘Nelson Examiner’ says: —“Crime has its lesson. Weeks have now passed by since the thrill of anger, and a keen feeling of disgrace were prevalent throughout our ordinarily i qiuet town. Well might "such emotions /be aroused ; for just, bey ond the hilly borimir aries of oitr city, a tragic scene of violence had been acted, a deep-laid scheme of - foul and heinous murder j e-petrated. But* why is it that after so long an interval, our first excitement hardly seenis to be diminished ; why is it that any abatement in the turbulence of the torrent ' then occasioned by the mighty rush of an aroused and anxious populace seems hardly perceptible ; why do'.s almost everyone we meet still talk of the foul deed committed near ' Franklyn’s Flat ? Disguise it as we may, it' is because that • event- is. one of the most disastrous' Which has ever happened in this province'.’ * It- marks an epoch' in ; our. his- : • : tory. One as imp'-utant. as • the .'•originaldiscovery of our'gold-fields,- with' which, /indeed, it is closely Connected, : Hitherto we 'had seen orily the ' suriiiy side of our West Coast gold-fields.' _ .True, we were not without !t precedents, —’written' 'in gl&riiig characters— of what might be expected, nay of what is the almost certain consequence of the acquisition of a rich gold-field ; but we naturally preferred to count only the treasures, and discard the attendant drawbacks until they were thrust upon our noticeAnd now, the dire reality has burst upon us like a thunder clap. Where now shall we find that confidence in the security of life arid property, whick was one of'the priceless possessions of orir colonial life ! Where, that .almost utter freedohi from anxiety,, which ’ enabled ps. to _ leave our wives and families in : inland homes, without those necessary precautions against robbery and violence, to which we had hitherto been strangers ? Arid where, that total absence of ali thought of outrage, which made colonial travelling so enjoyable? Well may we yet shudder at the thoughts of, well may we still bemoan the Maunga tapu murders, for the treacherous pounds have penetrated not only the life-spring of the unfortunate Wakamarinai, storekeepers, but plunged deep into the heart of social life, and severed the. sinewy, strings of confidence, and security, till&then the inherent possession, of every Nelson colonist.^ ; Wehave already said- that there is a lesson to. learn from all this. Henceforth we must set ourselves the task of establishing, not only here, but at the West Coast, all the intricacies ,of . a , well-established police department. Detectives must I be employed.; constant communication kept up with the police authorities at Melbourne and Otago ; the history of criminals known to be at large studied ; suspicious characters watched ; and intelligent, keen, and active* men employed to watch over life and property on all the highroads to our goldfields.”