Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-09
FROM VARIOUS MISSIONARY FIELDS

as far as Vancouver's island by Elder
w. {. Spence and wife, he coming maj
far to make arrangements with the
Huddard.Parker Steamship company ior
our traffic.
We sailed from Vancouver December
10th, and after very pleasant voyage oil
twenty-five days, reached Sydney, aus
tralia, January Sth 1895. AS we were
gazing wonderingly upon our surround
lngs and mentally inquiring il the Elders
who were laborIng in that large city
could have heard OF cur coming by the
new route and would be waiting ior US
at the wharf, two men came on board
and asked Elder Ellis who lie was. On
informing them. he was told that they
were looking for Us. These two men
proved to be Elders a.. Ridges and
w f.. Armstrong OF salt Lake City, and
there were live happy Elders there We
spent eight days IN Sydney, having a
most pleasant time sight seeing. We
set sail on the 10th for Auckland, New
Zealand, where we arrived on the 10th
and were met by Elders John Johnson
and +. $. Browning, ana later by our
beloved president, Elder William Gard.
ner who assigned us to our fields OF
labor, Elder Ellis being appointed
among the Maors in the Manawatu dis
trct, Elder Ashby among the Europeans
OF the Otago district, aud myself to
assist Elder r. Leo Bird in the
European labor in the Marlborough dis
trict.
Elder Bird and labored together I'M
til April conference, 1896, when he was
appointed to the Mandwatu district. |
continued the work alone until October
10Th. when was Joined by Elder lede-
oiah O. asper, OF Buiidale, Salt Lake
county. While laborng with Elder
Bird we performed three bRpusms and
spread the work into five new villages.
Since he LEFT have been working the
ground broken while we we're together,
and am in hope OF the harvest being
good in the near future.
A few months back one Of the Saints
decided to send one Of his daughters
home with company OF Elders and
Saints. This aroused some OF the rela-
tiveS, who made great stir both in prl-
vate and through the press, which has
caused new feeling OF prejudice to-
wards us in this and surroundings dis
tricts. We replied to all the newspaper
reports, our replies having very good
effect; but il will no doubt be good
while before the feeling OF prejudice will
cease, for many believe The false reports
about our being agents working TO Sc
cure girls tor improper purposes. We
are laboring very hard to get the truth
before the people, and we know 1t is
mighty and will prevail. Though the
clouds at times look dark, we bear in
mind that the darkest part OF the night
is Just before the day. Now that have
companion to assist me, we feel that
we will be able to spread the work 10 a
much better advantage.
As rule we are treated well where
ever we go. and although there are great
many who look upon us as the oliscour-
ings Of humanity, we have great many
friends and at present quite a number
who are earnestly investigating the Cos.
pei. We feel that the time is not ar
distant when this district will be among
the most flourishing in this mission. AT
present there are only sixteen European
members, but the number OF the Maoris
is about $50 and there are good pros
poets for more in the near future.
At present the following Elders lrou
Zion are laboring here. Walter Bunot
president OF the district, and Schuyle
i. White in the Maori work, and lede
diah G. Casper and myself in the Europ
| can labor.
The winter that has Just passed ha!
been extremely mild, but very back
ward spring followed.
The health OF the Elders is good, bu
there is some sickness among the Saints
HYRuM Cook.