Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-05-02
Jenson's Travels.
lErrrR NO. Nln

town about two miles 10 the village OF
Papawai, situated near the Ruamahanga
river, in the open WaiIarapa village.
Here we were met by friends and con.
Quoted TO the largest dwelling house In
the village, which was placed almos, at
our disposal during our soiourn there.
One Of the best rooms were assigned to
Elder Gardner aud myself in which we
could attend 90 our writing and other
business without being disturbed much
The large meeting house IN the village
was also placed at our disposal, Tor
meeting and sleeping purposes; aud
nearly all the native visitors slept there
during the conference Almost imme.
diately after our arrival. ! commenced
my historical labors the records OF the
Wairanpa district aud Of is respective
branches having being brought here for
my pcfusa. Alter attending an inter
esting prayer meeting with the natives
IN the large meeting house, We retired
ana enjoyed a good nights rest.
Friday December soth. The Elders
and native conference visitors began to
arrive some drove up in fine carriages,
others came on horse back aud some on
foot Whenever a fresh visitor came In
sight. II was announced through the
village by some woman calling out
"haere mai, haere mai, etc, at the top
Of her voice, and Immediately on their
arrival they we're shown their quarters.
or the Elders the following arrived:
James 5. Abbott, Edgar o Best and
Wallace c, Castle,on by train, Horace
w, Barton, Heber {. lex, John II. Ellis
and II. Lee Bradford on horse back,
and George Jarvis and John Clayson on
foot. This increased the number Of
Elders a, papawai to fifteen ! spent
the day culling historical matter, as.
sisted By Elders Bowles and Bird. In
the evening after prayer Hamuera Ia
mahau Mahupaku, the head chief Of
the village, who ranks as one Of the best
informed Maori chiefs living. made
long speech oi welcome; II was rcplelc
with fine sentiments and expression Of
his great friendship to the Elder though
he Is not member OF the Church. but
an investigator Of our principles, When
Momonism was fret introduced In the
Naipraps village he was one OF ils
bitter opponents. on one occasion he
gathered all the sick and manned OF his
village together and brought them
to lie OfeUfe, where the ELDERS were
holding meetings and demanded OF
them as a sign and proof OF their
being sent Of God TO heal all his sick.
When he was questioned in regard to
his faith and the nature Of the promise
These signs shall follow them that be.
lieye," etc, was explained to him, he
returned rather crest fallen, and after
that he commenced TO grow less and
less buter. until he finally became an
sdmirer OF some oil the grand principles
taught by the Elders. a short time ago,
when sort OF testimony meeting was
held under the auspicies Of the Church
vi England, and number Of the mem
hefs oi that Church expressed their be-
lief IN the principles advocated by said
Church, Mr.. Tamahau got up and de-
clated that he would rot say that. lie
did not feel 80 sure that the Church Of
England was the true Church nor that
IL doctrines were correct, for he was
investigating "Mormonism' which to
him seemed more consistent with the
Bible, Elder Gardner responded to the
chiefs speech IN manner that pleased
him aud all present very muCn; io.
lowed with a short speech translated by
T. der Gardner, and finished 40 with
singing a Danish song. By special re
quest afterwards sang the Hawaiian
Aloha o." assisted By some Of the
other Elders. Splendid spirit prevailed.
Saturday Dec, 2isL In company
with T. der George BOwles ! made a trip
In buggy to GfeytOWn, where ] had a
long conversation with the editor Of the
"WaiTarapa Standard" Alter return.
ing 10 Papawai | resumed my historical
laboTs. About moor Elders MILFORD +.
Nebeker, Thomas J., O'utien and David
Lindsey arrived by rail from the llaVk es
Bay district accompanied by quite a
number OF natives from said district.
Elder William l. Dimond also arrived
during the day. We were now nineteen
L ders from Zion al Papawai, and no
more we've expected ioi the conference
The day beng warm, nearly all the
III efs, myself included went TO the
Ruamahanga ryeT and took a refresh
ing bath and swim In is cooling waters.
Sunday Dec. 22nd. Our three days
conference commenced m the large
meeting house at Papawai. Besides a
good representation OF Saints from the
dhrrnet branches In the Wairarapa
district. there were quite a number also
from the Hawkes. bay, Manowatu and
Waifan district, and the following named
Elders from Zion: William Gardner.
president ol the Australaslan NJ sslOn,
and Andrew lenson, his travelling com.
panlon, Geo &c Bowles, president OF,
and n Lee Bradford, George Jarvis and
John Cayson, travelling Elders IN the
Natarapa district, James l., Abbott,
pres dent OF, and Heber {, lex, William
l., Dlmond, John II Ellis and Horace
w. Barton, travelling Elders in the
ManaWalu district: Wlliord +. Nebeker,
president OF, and Thomas J. o Bnen and
DAVID Lindsey, travelling Elders, In the
Hawkes. Bay district Lewis g, Ioag-
land president OF the hahla district;
Joseph W. LinioTd, president o. end K
Leo Bird travelling Elder In a.. Walran
district; and Edgar U. Best and val.
lace G. Castleton, missionaries in the
Canterbury district, These well at
tended and Interesting meetings were
held during the day, commencing
respectively at 10 a. M and at 8 and Z p.
~. George Rowles, Andrew lensun
Through Lewis O.. Hoagland as trans
ialorl and Aporo h kumeroa we're the
speakers in the forenoon; President
William Gardner occupied all the time