Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-07-16
FROM TIE ISLANDS.
Annual COnffr,rc,of ths Aus'ralaslan
z ~ .triU q Mission. - 90.

At the annual conferences Of the
Austraiasian mission held at Tamaki
In 1895 1t was decided that the Wal
rarapa distric should be the place for
our gslhsrlug this year.
Tamahau Mshupuku, an influential
chief OF Papawai, though mot men,
Der OF the Church, was desiroua oil
the conference being held on his
premises. Those in charge granted his
desire, and he almost INN sdiRtely set
10 work making preparation for the
accommodation OF the vast crowds
which assemble upon such oocsslons.
For the past few months the place
has presented an extremely busy
scene; q spacious frame building Of
three compartments, which 10 to be
uted for large gatherings 30 prev Aient
among the MAORI people, has been In
course OF erection. Tue portion In
which our meetings were held was
put 10 shape for the Saints 10 occupy
by April End. In the afternoon OF
April 3fd the house was formally
opened by all partsking OF least.
The eatablee were spread In true Maori
style--upon the fioof-and to the music
OF y brass band Inc company took their
places. There was an immeDae collec.
ton OF the good things OF the land,
and all present appeared to do jus;ice
to what was placed befJre them.
Our conference began on April 4
and continued three uaye, The ursl
meeting was callel at 10 a. m.
Seated with President Rchards
in, EtdaFa In
I, j. O'Brlen, Janus q. Allen, }, X,
Ne,son, I. 8. Brow ming, IL. b. ID alss,
Joseph Markham, Dawn II. Pack.
hard, II. l.. Bradford, Walter Buuot,
Farley A. Waters, Jacob E. Teep!e,,
Hytum Cook, John IL. Ellis, ". s.
Dimond, George Jarvis, X. A. Fem
ton, Joseph A. M. Jac1b,3p, j. N.
Lambert, David Lintsay, w. @.
Csslietou, s. IL. White, Hsus Petef-
ten, CHARLES j. Petersen, James Stead.
NAV, Hans b. Jensen, II. s. McKin.
non and g. Il. Anurus. Ii was
estimated that between 400 and 500
Saints were in attendance, with per-
haps eco outsiaers.
The audience was called TO
order anu Joined 10 singing the open
ing hymn. In the prayer, offered by
President Richards, the buiiuing was
dedicated to the l. ri. Alter the
singing OF the second hymn, our
worthy president aioIo and greeted all
who; had assembled, and ex-
pressed pleasure lor the favorable
circumstances under which We
had met. He explained the
object OF our annual conference, anu
In a general way reported the oOndi.
ton OF the mission. Since his arrival
in the mission in June, i95, he had
Visited all except one district, and
found much good being accomplished
by the Eliers. During the past year
S7l additions had been, made 1877 NJ
thst number being Eutopesns anu 237
MaoTis.
Elder Parley A. Waters, president
OF the Hsurski district, hal only pre-
eiied there for two months, and had
cot had the privilege Of visiting all
the Sainle. He spoke upon the nt ces.
sity Of each Que OF US having q personal
know edge Il tue persJnailty aud Ritrl-
butes OF the Father and Sjn.
Wiremu ratana, cluueslor to the
president u the Tamski branch, spoke
upon the VpyslHsy aud restoration,
giving special emphasis to the divine
mission OF the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Elder John Ii. Ellis, president OF