Show LETTER FROM NEW ZEALAND the annual conference nce in new zealand or hui tau as the maori a term itis characterized by many MADY novel features the place selected for hold ing conference Is often a small email village with apparently no facilities for accommodating the multitude which usually gathers on such an occasion this thin year the conference was appointed a point to be held at to te rahul on n the awand river near the east cape calpe about miles south of auckland and many of the saints had to make make and tedious trips by land and water early in march the elders laborin laboring in the south part of the island commenced their pilgrimage northward north w ard their numbers increasing as the they passed through the various dl districts arito en route elders from the north started about the same time in small email companies but most ot of them met at gisborne on the of march after brawling trawling travel ling irig along trails through the the dense brush or forests for several days it was a pleasant sight to witness tle tile glad and joyful meeting of so many elders from zion all banded together by the love of christ and united in one common cause president stewart headed the first company accompanied by six elders shortly afterwards the companies from I 1 the south arrived until about twenty p SUde over two hundred saints I 1 were all assembled at the branch hoube near gisborne an enjoyable meeting or reunion was held on the evening of april let where aher the sons V of zion sang for joy and rejoiced like abool school boys out for a holiday beds were arranged for the accommodation of the she visitors one bed containing thir teen elders covering the floor of one I 1 room at sunrise on the morning of the 2nd and dinst all were astir preparing prepare ng r for the onward journey the bell y rang mang calling the company to morning prayers and breakfast after which there was a rush for the horses blankets blanket were rolled and placed on the abe saddles and in a short time the 1 whole company was counted and T ready to ride forth the scene reminded the observer of a regiment of cavalry minus the bui v forms except that the company was improved by being compose I 1 of both sexes many mothers carrying their babes babee and instead of the clanking of the weapons of war they rode forth singing the songs of zion or merrily f conversing together they sall gal lopped along the beach and over the mountain trails for thirty five miles aud and halted at bawa for the sabbath elder C W taylor welcomed the visiting saints and all were soun soon i ate the following jay day sunday three meetings were held which were well attended i early on monday the usual routine of bell ringing prayers breakfast etc ete was gone through and again the pit pil bimage was resumed our numbers brimage f abing nearly doubled the road from bawa to To komaru bay our next stopping place was over moun moud tain where we rode in single file often along narrow ledge ei passing deep chasms and descending into the bush where the vegetation was so dense that even eved one horseman could scarcely carcell car cely pass through in the evening we reach tokomaru toyomaru To komaru having traveled thirty miles where all the people united in extending a welcome to us and providing us with supper f addresses of welcome were delivered by the Banga Ranga tiras or chiefs in the 1 meetinghouse where about three hun dred persons were assembled on the morning of the ath dinst our r mounted cavalcade again rode forth with increased numbers and reach r ling ing a little town named waipiro fro the people ople greeted us as usual and insisted alpon pon the company belting baiting for refresh bienas Bien enop ts la in a short abort time pans of meat potatoes and bread were spread on the ground round and we were soon seated doing justice justice to the bounteous repast so eo freely placed before us the most encouraging sight eight was pre dented to us as we neared the little town of jerusalem twenty miles from lo Io komaru where all the people were outsiders or mem hers bers of other churches too the missionary church is built on an eminence and could be seen for miles as we traveled up the valley As we approached pro ached the inhabitants assembled aseem bled on the top of the hill and for some distance we could hear their songs of welcome and haere mal maill come here and see their waving chandker chiefs thiefs and they danced for toy joy at our F approach the union jack of england and the colonial flag were floating to the breeze having been hoisted in honor of the visitors and as we rode three abreast up the hill bill the songs dancing and waving of handkerchiefs continued and it caused our hearts hearte to beat with gladness and we could scarcely crowd back the tears at receiving sueh a cordial reception we were invited to remain for the night and our vast company was well cared for the natives prepared food and presently a procession advanced singing aud and dancing as they carried dishes and pans containing an abundance of beef pork potatoes and other vegetables for all the elders were provided with a large house bouse and comfortably fort ably cared for next morning the caravan sallied forth from towards te rahul A horseman rode ahead with the union jack and as we neared our denti nation our company was into line hue four faur abreast I 1 the meeting house was built on OB an eminence a few miles ahead near the beach aud the Ran Banga gattra tira or chief came forth to welcome us waving his bin handkerchief we rode steadily forward four abreast to the brow of the hill where a strange sight eight greeted us two groups of natives I 1 il strange costumes were stationed on the plateau and our company formed a semicircle around them all remaining on horseback As we faced them in double column the natives commenced their renowned haks dance formerly this was the maori war dance and the natives were thus drilled and worked up to a state of frenzy prior to going forth to battle it is now repeated and accompanied with songs of welcome for the entertainment tain ment of visitors one of the groups on this occasion was composed ot of latter day saints aid the others were members of what to is known as al the missionary charchan Chur chan auxiliary of the church of Eng england Jand the dance commenced by about twenty five maori women going through various exercises accompanying all their quaint gestures with native songs of greeting they wore dark skirts and light waists decorated with 1 colored ribbons after going through ugh this calist henio drill for some time the women retreated anu and we beheld about fifty men crouching or lying prostrate on the ground they were naked with the exception of a short skirt around the loins suddenly they sprang up with a yell which al most caused the spectators to td shudder this was followed by dancing and singing ringing which was conducted with great precision and the contortions of their bodies were truly surprising it was a weird scene the ways waves of the ocean dashing on the beach within a few rode of us contributed a fitting accompaniment compani ment to the yells and excited countenances of the performers at times the arms were outstretched defiant attitudes were assumed and their rolling eyes and extended tongues agues almost terrified the lookers OD 00 the performance perform acce arce lasted about an hour after which our company dismounted unsaddled addled the horses and commenced a tour of inspection greeting the saints with the usual bongi or nose rubbing to is a very small village contrini con pon tRing taing a few ow maori huts but all the saints of the district had operated cooperated co oo to provide for the accommodation of the hundreds who were expected to conference the meeting house or in ig built in maori style the front being decorated with carved figures and painted pain tei in various col re the floor inside was covered with Wha or flax mate which the congregation gre gation sit alt upon in preference erce to chairs or benches its seating capacity is eald eaid to be about and it is fantastically decorated inside with carved panels and woven reeds the house bouse is seventy feet long by thirty wide and is substantially built of lumber A large dining room had been built for the occasion about long by 20 feet wide A table had been made extending from one end of the tha badding to the other and capable of accommodating persons at a sitting we were called to supper and about that number were soon seated around the festive board white table clothes were spread and mutton pork beef plum puddings cake etc were served in true european style the native waiters ar are eNvery very prompt and courteous and though many of the modern appliances appliance ir were lacking we enjoyer enjoy eil our feast as well as though served in the dining halls of salt lake hotels instead of electric bells cords were strung from the he dining room to the improvised kitchey behind which rung bells in the various departments notifying the cooks when fresh supplies were it was estimated that about five hundred persons were fed at each meal the first day and the readers of the NEWS can readily surmise that a vast amount of provisions were consumed at the close of the conference we learned that the commissariat department had bad disposed of 15 beeves 61 sheep 34 hogs aj i tons of flour 15 tons of sweet and ana irish potatoes 4 dzen Worce worcester eter sauce 1 large keg of butter 6 dozen cases of jam I 1 ton of sugar ii 1 oases cases baking powder bides besides a large quantity of currants rai raisins etc all comers were made welcome and it was certainly the largest and most united reunion your correspondent has ever attended such kindhearted kind hearted hospitality is a characteristic feature of the maori people and add they evidently retain some of the traits of character pos possessed seved by ancient israel in their many pilgrim age abec PHOENIX PORIRUA wellington N Z april 1892 |