Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-08-18
LETTER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Phoenix Relates Interestingly They Go Conference
In Maoridom.
Bj,oy Deseret NswE

"Going TO conference 10 many OF
the Saints in Zion these words are asso-
GATED with pleasurable an,icipations Of
meeting friends and associates; children
are happy in the thoughts Of riding on
,bs u. p. or K. G. w. train; lovers Of
music look forward to concerts and
Tabernacle music rendered by the Tar.
famed Tabernacle choir; faithful Saints
are hungehng for the words Of eternal
life. spoken by their beloved president,
Apostles aud others, and all eagerly
anticipate a spiritual feast.
Going to Conference in Maoridom
lacks many Of these attractive features,
but is, nevertheless happy experience.
A large number Of Maohs aud Elders
assembled at Te Hpra, on the South
island, New Zealand, Oh June s7,h, for
the purpose Of travelling together TO the
semi.annual conference OF the Wairau
district. Some had come by steamer
from the North Island, and Others had
Jeff their homes in various parts Of the
district Ia order to travel In one COM
pany.
on the morning OF the .S.h the village
bell was rung before daylight, and soon
al was hustle and confusion. a morn.
ing service was held, according to Maori
custom, after which a hasiy breakfast
was paftaken Of A large number Of
horses we're brought up and the Elders,
booted aud spurred, were soon mounted
and ready for the journey. Our Maori
brethren loaded their pack-horses with
blankets, clothing, etc, until the ami
mails almost gfoaucd beneath the load.
The drivers then mounted the pack,
and. after placing few children snugIy
behind, Joined the procession. The
Maori uOtnlg carefully cnwapped her
babe. swung Il across her shoulders,
and, taking q bundle Of unmenu0nables,
mounted her horse and rode along be-
side her spouse When all preparations
were completed the strangely equipped
clvalcadc moved of, and no mcrrIcr
company ever travelled 10 conference IN
Zion. No wonder that Europeans along
the route crowded to doors and vim
dows to watch the motley crowd go by,
surminng, probably, at first thought,
that Il was stranded country circus.
About sixty or seventy persons COM
pfised the company the feeble
and dccfcpit patriarch OF an unknown
age to the infant few weeks old.
The horses were of all breeds and
sizes, from the shaggy pony aud broken
knucd hack TO the hcavy'built dray
horse. Every available steed was util-
ICED, for all the people must 20 to the
Hui" and not even dog was leit
behind to guard the village. Many Of
the young men and maidens tramped
the thirty mile journey on foot, and at
times made better progress than the
horsemen.
About fifteen miles OF the road was
along a narrow trail, through dense
bush. The forest scenery was truly
magnificent. The giant "rimus, black
birch, "Mairc" aud "Tolafa," native
TIMBER lowered $50 feet high, their
massive limbs stretching out aud inter.
twining above, forming a canopy over.
head 50 dense that the suns rays could
scarcely penetrate.
Beneath these fostering branches
numerous variety OF ferns, shrubs and
primitive beauty, undisturbcd by the
vindal hoos OF roaming cattle, As the
company OF Saints iourneycd through
the forest II was often necessary to
pass under leaning trees, or jump over
the fallen logs, aud knives were often
brought out in order TO cut way
through the tangled vines and bfiIrs.
one OF the Elders was almost carried
oil his horse and readily believed that
II was possible Tor Absalom to be sus.
pended In the thiCkeL Al times large
rivers we're crossed, and women aud
children had then 20 De conveyed over
on horses, the Elders rendering yco.
man service, crossing and reCfOssing
the rivers, conveying the babes and
then their mothers, until all were landed
safely on the other side.
This labor was not necessary with
shallow streams, as the foot passengers
were able to ford them. Many OF the
sisters carried their footwear slung
around their necks, and all marched
along bareiooted. As they crossed the
streams they modestly aud dex,erously
raised their neither garments rs the
water increased In depth, and then with
merry laugh skipped ahead OF the
horsemcn. The summit OF an almost
perpendicular mountain was reached by
Hgzag trail, and progress was often
impeded by land slides and fallen
timber,
As the sun disappeared beneath the
western horizon the CayalCade emerged
from the forest, and soon alter the
village OF Whangane was reached. II
Is situated upon shallow bay Of the
ocean, on the northwest coast Of the
South Island. As the Elders advanced
the natives came forward and amid
the waving OF haudkerchies and songs
Of greeting, babe them welcome. The
usual salutaiiuns, the cyer'welcome
''hongi," were Freely given and many
OF them were quite prolonged, and
accompanied by a cOpiOus How of tears
according to Maori custom. Such evi
dences Of affection We're very gratifying
10 the Elders who had labored to bring
them to a knowledge OF Christ.
Elaborate preparations had been made
for the accommodation of the people. A
large new meeting house, 3Sx2o feet
had been erected for the oCcdslun-lht
frame work being Of heavy timbers, and
the sides and roof covered with "Nikau,
a native palm.
The culinary department was replctt
with a large variety OF viands, and the
pastries, puddings and other delicacic,
would compare iayorabiy with most o.
the pic'nics In Zion,
The conference commenced on Satur
day morning, June Soth, at 10 o'clock,
The Elders present from Zion wer,