Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-08

Coorparoo. Brisbane, Dec. 2. 1897.
| To the Editor:
situated as we are in the northern
colony of Australia and far removed
from Auckland, the place that has
been the headquarters of the erstwhlle
Australian mission. 1t will be under
stood with what pleasure we received
the news on the 9th of last September
that Australia and Tasmania would
henceforth lie separate and distinct
from the New Zealand mission. In
stead of sending illetters / 500 miles
away we shall s1oY get quicker re-
turns because Sydney, the headquar-
tiers of the Australian mission, IL only
800 miles south of here, and without
doubt we shall be visited oftener than
could be the case with the president
laboring among and looking after
nearly 1000 Maoris, 1880 or 1000 miles
away On Sept. 81 word reached the
Elders of this conference from Elder
=. f. Richards OF the appointment OF
Andrew Smith Jr as president of the
Australian mission with headquarters
at Sydney. The same letter that con-
veyed the above news also intimated
that ElderRichards would visit Queens
land about the end of November
Some of us have counted the hours
between the receipt of such glad news
when Elders Richards and Smith, ac-
companied by Elder w. c. Castleton,
clerk of the N. z. mission, arrived in
Brisbane. Through the visitors decld-
ing to come up from Sydney In
different boat to the one they in
formed us they would come in, no one
was at the wharf to meet them and
they We're under the necessity of navi-
eating themselves to the suburb of
Coorparoo. which, as Elder Richards
had been here once before was not q
very difficult task.
On Nov. 26 all the Elders arrived in
Coorparoo from their various fields Of
labor and at IL u. m. an Elders meet
ing was held, which lasted nearly four
hours and was characterized by an
abundance of the good cheer which
the Spirit gives. Later on in the after
neon the brethren were taken for a
drive round Brisbane.
Sunday, the 2Sth ult., was busy
day. The headquarters was alive
pretty early Sunday school convened
at a. M. The Sunday school children
We're briefly addressed by Elders Rich
ards and Smith, the former OF whom
said n few words in Maori. to the evil
dent delight of the children. Elder w.
e. Castleton also sung Maori song
lhymn), which was FULLY appreciated
by all present.
AT 1880 the first meeting of the con-
ference convened in the Iatter-day
Saints hall, South brisbane. Quite a
number of Saints and outsiders turned
out to hear President Smith give
practical talk to those present. After
the morning Session some of the Ell
ders accompanied the Elders TO old
Father Duffln's, abouto u mile away,
where the Sacrament was admins
tered to him and the old Maorii's heart
was made to rejoice at meeting with
AZ u 4. 4a-z.. L.. H. a
ternoon session Elder Richards pre-
scented the general authorities OF the
Church Elder Bcnj. Clegg was re-
leased from his labola here and was
called to go to Adelaide. south Austria.
liza. Wm. Armstrong was sustained
as president of the Queensland confe- |
renee. with the following brethren MS
travelling Elders viz: Elders Il, IL. |
Argyle, a. i. Hamilton, VIM. S. Fau- |
sctt II. S. Woodland, VIM. Robson |
and w. II, Coray. The rest of the time |
WAS tplSen up by addresses from Elder |
Castleton and President Smith on Splr- |
itual gifts, Church organization, etc, |
In the evening Eldcr Smith addressed |
q meeting in North Brisbane. while |
President Richards spoke to about 100 |
people for nearly two hours in the |
South Brisbane hall.
After visiting among the Santa on |
Che afternoon Of the 2yth of November. |
n Priesthood meeting convened in the |
evening Mt which an the Elders and |
nearly all the local Priesthood were !
present. Questions were asked and |
answered regarding the Priesthood and |
the duties OF the branch officers. and |
peace and harmony restored where |
lately there has been some misunder- |
standing
ON Tuesday, the goth of Nov, the
Elders were astir very early. as they |
had some long distance calls to make |
and reach the steamer by noon.
Escorted by two OF the Elders they
got round, and 1890. the time when |
the steamer left the wharf. found all |
the Elders on hand. both those who |
were going and those who are staying. |
sprinkllng of Saints also attended To |
Witness the steamers round the bend