Show WELCOME TO missionaries of A private letter from elder ezra T stevenson the news has haa been permitted to copy the subjoined sub joined extract levin new zealand april 11 1898 there tere to ie so ao much to say that I 1 hardly know where to begin but first I 1 am well ve 6 whre h having a I 1 IT kig arrived in apryl aprile s at 11 a a m all fab and glad to set get ashore our VIDY so ae from fram birtil atis anae not ot quite 60 C adf honolulu having met V el y gate L fa fat two aada but niter ter waa agal aa aft anak ar artir 1 braat made gla glaff I 1 oh when the bait ait cape of new zealand came tn in sight that meant that our sea voyage was nearing an end and that soon we could be actively engaged in the work for which we have come forth it was WAA interesting too to see the glad smile on Hl Tinis countenance as he looked at the land so familiar so dear to his memory although he now looks upon ulon salt lake city as his home his zion still there must naturally be a strong emotional sensation as he looks upon the land of his fathers and his birth and the experiences ot of a long life then of the friends he was to meet no wonder a smile lit up his dear old countenance but I 1 find that the sea trip and excitement cit of meeting have been quite a tax on him and we will have to husband his strength and ask aak the lord to bless him tor for the labors ad travels before him on our arrival at wellington I 1 was handed banded a letter from elder richards stating that conference had commenced comen ced that morning at Pop awal and for us ua to proceed there as soon as convenient being sunday no trains were running only excursion boats and bicycles so we had to content ourselves by waiting tin morning in the meantime however we sat got our trunks through the custom house not however without some difficulty as one on brother very providently inclined had three pairs of o f new shoes in his trunk which had never been worn and of I 1 know knew nothing these were hedd out of course also two packages of underclothing on which we had to pay some duty nett net morning ait we had all our baggage transferred and were on our way to the but tau annual conference where we arrived at a little before noon I 1 had wired elder eilder richards and we were met at the train with sufficient conveyance to take us all ah over brother W C castleton was wag there with a one horse horae buggy for me and I 1 very much enjoyed the three mile ride to the maori pa with him and what a royal reception about a quarter q of a mile from the pa we found foun d a brass band maori awaiting us which formed in marching order and we were requested to dismount and fau fan in aluch we did two and two there being eight eig ht of us thus we were escorted under fine music ano abad the queens own US flag A little further we were met by a party who gave us a reception aka apt dance v when the band bana tell fell to the ayar p the d dancing mma company back k gradually till tiff tue the space in front of the large building was reachel reached then the dancing party fell out and a commenced aid this port part I 1 felt it was not necessary tor for ua 0 all to endure so as saon soon as we we cow politely do tt it we left chirini to rec reaf that attention while we broke ranks rank ana aad a na ad fell upon the necks of tle the twenty eight elent utah elders assembled semi sem bled you see bur company swelled the dumber to thirty six and I 1 just I 1 can assure you we did have a good time our arrival rather broke into the conduct duct of conference and the afternoon was given up un to welcome speeches reg ular meetings being resumed again at 7 p m followed by three meetings each day tuesday and and on thursday the chief of ther the village an outsider invited Us to remain for a holiday and feast at his expense we could of course not do less than accept after his kind treatment ofus of us in assisting to ta entertain our conference we being on the ground some of the boys boy got up a match gume game of baseball and when mer elder richards and I 1 walked out a little later they insisted upon my acting as umpire well so long abug as it wasa waa a non noil running position I 1 accepted accept edt aad had the thanks of the winning aide the big dinner occurred at p m and I 1 can just tell you it was a spread about two hundred sat down to tables loaded with good things roast beef pork and mutton fish fowl and potatoes first course then plum pudding and pastry galore elder richards chirini and yours truly occupied the place of honor at a table with the chief and a friend the decorations were the whole tops of tree ferns and large bouquets bo queta and the guests did full justice to the viands prepared after supper and evening prayer the tables were cleared out and a dance indulged in by the maoris laoris in this we did not participate as the mission statutes rule the elders out of such intimacy ti acy with the opposite sex we could only sit and look on the music was furnished by the maori band and was really good some of our elders varied the amusement with a sort of an orchestral program there being a violin mandolin two harmonicas harmo nicas and a piano elder richards and I 1 left early going tp the room above which was the elders quarters attending to other and more important matters about just as Br brother orther richards was getting into bed the call for after the ball supper was waa made and I 1 not yet having undressed was deputized to represent the president thus it was past 2 a m when I 1 retired and some of us did not turn in till 4 or 5 and we were out again at getting horses up and ready for those who came that way and the dispersing commenced many of the laoris maoris took the early trains ano and the place soon began to look lones lonesome orno but we have had a glorious good time have had excellent meetings and t f can bah say tor for myself I 1 enjoyed it immensely men sely put but we were very busy between meetings and at planning arranging appointments answering questions instructing the elders etc so that we never got sleep till 1301 and out at or six in the morning also I 1 had little sleep the two nights before reaching there and when we left on friday holding a meeting with europeans in catterton carterton Car it was just a struggle t to 0 keep awe awake but saturday night and last night we had a chance to catch up and are now ready for work again n it t was really more of a pleasure even than X 1 had anticipated to meet old old maori friends end again to remember and arbe be remembered r coq so kindly was waa very alce I 1 have not yet seen any of oc my mr old kalapu madrict people as a they did not SO get down to conference it la is a long way for them but I 1 am glad to say may that our next april conference will ahl be held up there also I 1 expect to take in the dist district riot on my way to auckland spending most of the mouth month ot of may mai in that and adJa adjoining Ining district reaching Auck auckland lan in june with co conferences gerences appointed from that on to september and october so you see aee I 1 sw steal be busy W wre iff now nov OT or wi v to tn th tb mih ach q making a final trip for elder Ino richard bardl the mahia is Hir ints old home and we desired to make it convenient to take him up there early we expect to go on tomor tomorrow Tow to napier etc in all probability rob ability elder richards with W R C castleton clerk off of the mission and three other elders will leave wellington on oTi april by the same boat on which we came out they win will rech reach home about may EZRA T STEVENSON it was the wheat pit and not the race track that made augutus augustus C of san francisco faco a thief arid and swallowed U up idich the greater part of the which he stole from the city treas arlt this comes from an mati mate friend of wisher The theaty vity ja aria county treasurer was one af thle maw caught aft the big rise ride and th alfr clayt motley went wen to make up his bl shortage on wheat |