Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-02-21

tanned a population Of only about %, 600
whites Auckland only had two or
three thousand people in 1884. The
Elders, on arriving, found all the houses
OF accommodation m the city full. in
consequence Of an influx OF emigrants;
consequently they had to hire unfur
nished apartments to live In. After first
visiting the respective ministers or
preachers Of different denominations,
they gave notice by advertisement, Of a
series of meetings which they intended
TO hold at the Venetian cottage, Oor-
merly the residence Of General Pittl.
Their meetings were well attended. and
there was considerable inquiry on the
part OF the people, many OF whom pur.
chased books treating upon the ptinci.
pies Of the Gospel. After holding sew.
eral meetings the two Elders proceeded
to Onehunga, a small town situated on
the Manukau hatbor, on the west coast,
seven miles from Auckland, intending
to hold meetings there; but the early de-
pafture OF the steamer, on which they
were to sail for Wellington, prevented
them from preaching there. The first
branch Of the Church in New Zealand
was raised up by William Cook, after
the return TO Australia Of Augustus
farnham, early In 1855, at Kafor, near
Wellington. / have been unable to
learn OF any other organization OF the
Church In New Zealand. I'LL 1867, when
Elder Carl c. Asmussen, who had re-.
Gently embraced the iulness OF the Cos.
pei In England. baptized six persons at
kaipoi, near Christ Church, on the
South Island, and ordained William
Burnett an Elder; but no branch was or
ganized, though meetings were held
every Sunday Tor some time, and others
baptized. In 1870, Robert Beauchamp
revived the work near Wellington, and
IN Apnl 1870, a branch, consisting Of
eighteen members, IS reported to
exist At Karon, near Wellington, where
the former branch OF 1885 had been
raised up by Elder Cook. on January
Sth, 1871, a conference was held at
karori, at which thriy.ouc adult mem.
bers Of the Church In New Zealand was
represented, including four Elders. In
the latter part OF December, 1871, Elder
Henry Dryden and Brother Joseph law.
cett, with their respective families ,clcv.
en- souls altogethef), sailed from New
zealand, per steamer Nevada. This lit
Tie company, which seems to be the first
Latter day Saints TO cmigrate direct to
Utah from New Zealand, arrived IN Salt
Lake City, February 10th, 1874. on
December i4th, 1875, Elders Frederick
Hurst, Charles Hurst, John I. Rich and
William McLachlan landed at Auckland
as missionaries from Utah. The arrival
Of the four Elders and that Of Elder
Thomas Steed, who was sent over from
Australia about the same time, may be
termed the commencement Of perpetual
missionary work In New zealand,
though ! believe even after that the
field was without representation from
Zion once, for q year OF more But
though Elders landed at and took
their departure from Auckland, no sue.
cesssiul missionary work was done Ia
that city till after the arrival OF Elder
John 7. Sorensen OF Salt Lake City,
on December roth. 1879. lie com
mcnced to preach IN Auckland lat the
Odd Fellows HAIL. January nth, 1850
and baptized his tirst converts In that
city, February goth, 1880 A number d
others followed, aud on June 9th, 1880.
he organized a branch Of the Church IL
Auckland, with Elder VIM. John Me
Donald (the first man baptized, a.
president. For many years the Auck-
land branch was strong and lively,
though contentious occasionally arose
among some OF the members. But In
due course OF time the cream OF the
branch" emigrated to Zion; others apos.
tatized, and there are at present only q
few scattered members OF the oTganiza.
ton lett. Among those are Sister Har'
ding and family, with whom we held a
little meeting on Sunday evening, Octo'
Der t3th. II the branch Is not revived
In the near future, It will not be the fault
OF Elders Johnson and Browning, who
are laboring with a zeal which their OPP
ponents say is worthy OF a better cause
TO establish the cause OF Zion In the
beautiful city OF Auckland and vicinity
Monday, October i4,h, In perusing
the records OF the Ausiralasian mission
found that no accounts Of the labor.
Of the early missionaries have been pre-
served; at least they are not at the
headquarters OF the mission at the pres.
ent time. The record, which Is known
as the mission history, has been wei
kept since that date. Nearly two hun