| Show LETTER FROM NEW ZEALAND new Zo zealand aland april 19 1893 the annual conference coBle rence or hui tau tail at to te hauke new zealand was generally considered one of the best beet ever held in the little maori village designated as aa the scene of the conference la is pleasantly situ ateca in an open valley about twenty fire miles weak of napier in the early settlement of new zealand many sanguine ean guine conflicts took place in the vicinity between the natives andearo and an juuro dEuro peano and near the village may be sen the ruins ruine of an old fort which was wa afterwards afterward fi converted into a graveyard A large number of mounds with broken headboards head boards still remain visible to tell the story etory of the gallant soldiery eol diera who fell in those memorable days hundreds ot mabris maoris from all parts of new zealand assembled tit at te hauke nearly a week prior to the he time of con faience fei ence many were non don members of the church and all had been invited by some of the non mormon mordou res residents identa to participate in a maori IS this is one of the most moat ancient cue cua toms toma of the natives na tivee and in olden times was attended with much suffering buttering and barbarity it Is ia still customary to prepare great feasts on these occasions occa aiona siong and olten about 1000 is expended in providing tor for the multitude eliat usually attends A maori tangi may appropriately be termed a lafeat for ane honored tit dead ad it is not confined to the time of the decease of a distinguished relative or friend but may be repeated as aa often as the surviving members of the tribe desire and will sometimes last several weeks tribes are occasionally almost impoverished byruch prolonged dij tating feasting visitors are received with orles cries of welcome and the maori women will go forth to meet the company with wreaths of greenvine green vine leaves upon their basup singing or chanting their haere mate IP come on reaching the village the women form a semicircle and at once commence their mourning or walling wailing A stooping attitude is assumed and the tears flow copiously p Y falling to this the ground like drop of rain the piteous dirge like wall IP if at times almost heartrending meantime Mantl me occasional exclamations of orrow morrow for the departed are uttered by some ome member rt of the company and often the weeping rud and walling wailing will continue for or hours thin ia undoubtedly an ancient Israelit cust omand is fitly described by jeremiah call for the mourning women that they may come and let them shem make haste baste and take up a wall wail for us that our eyes may run down with tears and our eyelids gush out with waters P A few years ago however the mourners would be more desperately derpera despera tely demonstrative the women would gi assemble memble attired only in a skirt skir tand and many of them armed with sharp flint made of sharks teeth or bard shell though often contenting themselves with a piece of volcanic glow glass after wailing and crying for a ashert hort time the company would be worked into a state of frenzy the moaning duld give place to loud creaming irig accompanied by frantic gestures and quivering arms and hands and occasionally while singing or howling the women would draw the sharp instruments jabro across the breasts or down the arms aad d at times down the face each cut causing 1119 the blood to flow copiously often 1 abe poor creatures would be almost covered with large clots blots of coagulated blood making them sad and hideous objects indeed such isi nanee neb are seldom heard beard of now and this relie relic of barbarity is di disappearing as aft the die natives begin to understand the old mosaic law ye shall not make guy any cuttings in your flesh ton fob the dead owr griat I 1 ja t any marks upon you I 1 am abe er lord ord lev 28 prior to the opening of the cunfer once bee about twelve of the elders took coln for napier in order to visit the little seaport on the east coast on le leaving giving the station a large number ot ol teats were observed and over the festooned festoon ed gateway leading into the doare were observed the words welcome 1 8 D adventist camp Meo meeting ting 9 the conference of this religious body was drawing to a close but bat the elders took seats in ii the large tent and listened attentively to the proceedings on learning that the visitors were mormon elders engaged in spreading abe he gospel among the laoris maoris a request was made that some of the number address the conference confere confer Bce eface which was readily complied with after a short intermission elder W T stewart pani president clent of the australasian mission gave a concise sketch of the work oi be elders during the past sight eight years and also answered many questions relating to maori customs habits etc bider B goddard gaddard also testified to the success access attending the faithful labors of the servants of god and showed how of sobriety and chastity were taught to the people much interest was waa manifested during daring these thene addresses and after meeting tle company was cordially invited to lunche oti the rest of the time was occupied in strolling around the town napier is the principal town and seaport in the hawkes bay district and to la beautifully situated on a penin buls bula some borne of the finest residences are built on the summit of the cliffs cliff over looking the ses sea and a floe fine view of the surrounding country may be obtained from these favorite heights A one fine breakwater has been built over 2000 feet teet long and the most moat pleasant drive is along the esplanade facing the ocean the town has about inhabit auto ante and the many substantial business blocks indicate that there are many enterprising citizens engaged in bringing napier into the front rank rack of new zealand cities the principal ecclesiastical building is the church of england cathedral which to is said to be one of the handsomest handsom eat structures lc in the colony several newspapers are published two of which are dailies the large harbor will accommodate anhof any of the immense steamers which occasion occasionally elly put in at new zealand ports the conference meetings at te hauke commenced on friday april ath and great interest t was manifested in the services service A new feature was the singing of some of our favorite sunday bunday school hymns in the english language which some of the natives were familiar with A few of our old time zion ziona a hymns translated into maori by elder J M hendry were much enjoyed by the natives and the old familiar tunes were a treat to the elder chos on the lord lords is side who was sung aung by elder goddard who was assisted irk in the chorus by his bin colleagues and many of the maori members mem bare bars it would have done our veteran sunday school worker good food to hear his favorite old hymn aua sung so earnestly by his dark skinned brethren and slaters sisters the principal topic of conversation in the intervals between meeting was the dedication of the salt lake te temple and one evening was devoted to reminiscences ot of temple labors labom the work continues to spread and two new districts were formed upon the south island one consisting of european members and the uther other ol 01 01 maori laoris all the elders are iu in good health anu and appear to rejoice in their labors labore all ail enjoyed the happy reunion and while some bade goodbye good bye prior to their return to zion others returned to their fields of labor with renewed determination to continue the work of encouraging t the saints and warning the sinners to flee from the wrath to come I |
