| Show I TRAM IN HEW ZEALAND II Diflloultlos EncoutorctT in Going to and Coining From Oouforcmco TB PUKE Day of Plenty N Z May 3rd 1887 To the Editor Having read many very Interesting reports re-ports from Elders laboring In various parts of Ihe Lords vinejard we thought perhaps a letter Tram this far oil land might aso be read with interest II i the same may find spice in your column Having been requested by our beloved president E F Richards to travel overland to atlend our annual conference ence In Wairarapa In company with Elder I El-der David H Packard the writer left his headquarter at Te Arolia HauraU on Mitch 3rd For to das I was accompanied ac-companied by Elder Thomas Butter field and alter crossing several bo < en bridges and snirrmn our horses dui ing the day we were obliged to spend our first night by the side of Ihe Wilbou river and wait for the flood lo subside recent rains having Ikoded the country and made many of the roads impassable impassa-ble On Ihe even ng of the stir I arrived ar-rived at the Wairoi river near Tauran gi and was met by Eldcn Packard and McDonald Needless to say the meeting meet-ing was a hippy one ai Elder Packard and myself grew up together in Spring ille Ulan county The following Sunday Sun-day being general Fast day was spent atTe Puke and on Monday prepara tions were made for a continuation of our journey On Tuesday we resumed our travels and on the evening of the loth arrived at Wrakarewarevva one of the mot noted places of New Zealand on account ac-count of Its hot lakes geysets etc and were soon enjoying a hot bath in one 01 the many pools used for thai purpose ThaT baths which are considered won deifui for their healing quahl cscAn only be appreciated by those who Ir ive ell jY ed Ihem nnd hundreds v sit them yearly fertile bmehl of their health Aside from the balls the peope of this place are wondetfjllv blessed in being able to do all their cooking by means of these hot pools and steam Potatoes puddings I etc are placed in ego smal I flax bags and hunt i op fie boiling boil-ing water while bread cakesinetkQ arc baked by placing the respective ke ties in holes dug in the ground and covered with dirt tbe heat being sufficient to do the baking Alter spending one night at the above place we resumed our journey and on the evening ol the lath arrived at Orakelkorako but found no ont at home While pondering over our SItu a lion and how we would provide lood and shelter for ourselves Iho writer began be-gan wl h his companions to find n means of entrance to ODe 01 the houses 4 4 belonging to a Saint an 1II1 lie found the door key hidden snugly under the dcor sill and all Acre food comfortably located inside and busy preparing upper up-per Elder McDonald acted as baker while I Elders Packard and Waters repaired to < the garden for potatoes and cabbage These were prepared and placed in a i small flax bag wan a drawstring at tin 11 top and then placed over a small sleim hole nearby which by Ihe way is about the hottest place we ever saw After being covered with bags to partially enclose i en-close the steam they were tell for buut I twentjfivc minutes then taken out still were ready for the lable Meanwhic bread was ready and erjoyed a good supper and the days events closed with another bath Hits place is also noed lor Its wonders one ol the greatest being known as the Alum Cave On our arising next morning a wonderful sight presented Itself IlIlho many steam jet to be seed while oa every hand were pools of boiling seething witer the whole bringing to mind btl Irom 1 sight and smell the sectarian hell of the lake of fire and brimstone I Breakfast f was prepared in the usual eiel i 11 manner after which we left for oilier I notices Calling i at a native settlement 3 tiling the diy we were pleased lo meet the owner of the house we had recently occupied and to him we related uur experiences ex-periences the whole meeting with his nearly approval We spent the following follow-ing Sunday March 1411 al Maroi among the Saints IVe held meetings with them blessed a baby and gave them much advice and instruction calculated cal-culated lor their future welfare On Mond > y the 15 h we bid Elder McDonald farewell and Elder Packard and myself resumeu our urneypreacn ing the Oospl wherever opportunity presented Itself the following Sunday being spent at RatMihl An enjoyable I lime was also spent here and the following I fol-lowing day we adin resumed our travels trav-els At Man amate we stopped overnight over-night with some Saints and on preparing prepar-ing to leave on the morrow we were promoted with fifteen shillings each to help us on our way We were also cll I recled to take a toad shorter than the one we had intended to travel thereby saving us much climbing of hill and other inconvenience We could not un den land why we Hid money given us as both suppoied we had money enojgh to pay all necssiry expenses We lerned I however that our heavenly Father knows more about our needs than we do as our tram fares were much higher than We had expected We arrived at Palmcrston headquarters headquar-ters of the Manawatu district on Friday I March 36th but the Elders laloring there wcic absent being in the lower or scuth end ol their district We traveled trav-eled on to Ngawhakarau a few mile I further south and spent Sunday with the I I Saints ol that place As on account rf the conference has no doubt already been sent to your columns l col-umns for publication It is needles to repeat re-peat more than that an joable lime was had Our return journey commenced April StIll and was of course by rail to Pal I mcrsion wriere we made arrangemett to hod meeting with the European Saints of that place on Sunday ever ing These complete we walked to Ngaw 7 lukarau a distance u n ne mile 01 Saturday even ng where we held Sabbath Saturdat bath school and i Sacrament meeting I with ho Maori Saints We then got our hones and returned to Palmciston to fill the appointment preViously made for that evening Besides the Saints a few ojts de visitcrs were present and a good spirit was In our midi but after ndeav I oring to preach In the English language we toth agreed we w into prefer usg our own tongue title Maori Leaving Palmrrsion on Monday April J3lh we resumed our return jour trey wittioit interruptloi until Minga 1 ute w3 leached However upa 11 f N mib I leivmirthit rlace on Friday the tGlh we experienced very r2ldav rains and alter traveling bout tight mites we met n mail carrier u Ih his m > il on his hack who Informed us that a slip h id occirrrd in the road making It I Impassible I Not wishing to fur n back we wtnt on hut soon arrived at tne scene ol the trouble A larse lands Ip had occnrreJ just above a dugwiy and the rad lora lor-a distance of 1 sfixw or eljht rods wa completely hidden by I a hugo mass ol earth ires stumps brush etc making n most formidable cbitacle A th6r ough Invcsiigiifon revealed but one chance to pass and that was to Boom I the mountain make our way along through slump fil en tres and thick underbrush until past the slip ihn slide our hoe down over An tm bankmcnt with a slim chance of keepIng keep-Ing on Ihir feet TntS hoever wal successful y Iccomp if lied and we continued con-tinued on our way wet muddy but r t joicmg that we were once more ol tile solid road After pvsine > tveri other t slips and washouts of minor meillon we arrived at what Is I known m Wai ungl I bit IRC Title we faun f 110 1 be fIat ing I nnd impassable the rod beyond also al-so being covered Mta sev ral feet of watr vv e underlined our situation ala al-a Elancr Flnots b > f ire ui land lips Ixliird us with no ether allinitlvo than to seek shelter a si edo station This we old and were ob lied to all chi Irom our horses Into the dorray th i house being surrounded by vviler wmch was still nsin4 The house was occu tie I bye four by-e iheptierrcjrs win endeavored endeav-ored to mike us cornlortableandray I compan n asled them quietly if they could supply all hands mi i oars in ca < ewe e-we floated Honever all went well we hid a omforlable night and on arising In the mom ng the water was nearly all gene Win bare feet t and trowiers to tur knees we sought our horses and found them on a rising ground mile distant We started lor Raetlhi and on arriving at Kanoi several sev-eral volunteered t information thit we could not get Ihrjugh owing to high Wdler Summcninn all Bur pluck we pushed on and met a mail carrier with the same thing to tell us I lowcv we close I our ears to all report deter miued not to give up without a mighty effort at success We forded rivers crossed broken culverts etc until five miles only lay between us and o ir ds tinaticn Then we were con pelled to leave our horses and tramp to the llia eWe e-We arrived there after dark wet again tired and rauldy But We were under ildc the kind care onrgooaSalnU I Brother and Sister Chase and were coon made comfortable dry clothing and a good stunner provided for us and wall thankful thank-ful hearts lo God for HU mercies we retired re-tired to rest We spent two d iys w Ib i the people o Raetlhi their resumed our iourney wit cut further mterrtiptljn or scA loin d ffi culty Ol the afternoon of flurjdiy ith wo April 39th wo vislcd on villase whcie we had desired to preach but found u one at home We were refused shelter at a second place bit were tott < I cf ajni Saints who lived near by To our sur prle we found they had been baplueJ by Elder Jams Slater omj year sine and had not since ben visited They were pleased to see us and a peisau evening was Silent with them We arrived ar-rived at Te Puke on Saturday May HI both well having traveled 1257 miles held quite a number of meet ts t many good Gospel conversations and blessed lour children We fruit lint sam of the seed we Inv sown will through the blessings of GoJ tike root and become be-come fruitful to be reaped by others who may follow In our rap steps P A WATERS |
