Show IN DISTANT NEW ZEALAND A private letter from fro mElder elder L G HoR Roa gIand glana now on a mission in new zealand contains much that Is later inter eeling esting for publication the NEWS is ie permitted to make the following extracts CARTE ELTON new zealand sept 4 1893 I 1 have been here in the Waira rapa valley all my time since coming to new zealand the Waira rapa district includes all of the Waira rapa valley and the valley averages I ages a width of nearly ton ten miles by sixty miles lonk long with the lower or south end ending at cooks strait which to la between the north and south islands island towards the lower end of the valley la is situated the beautiful lul Waira rapa lake which abounds with fish of different kinds and a great imana eels eek which the natives are very fond ol of these are caught by the ton in large eel baskets ba which are placed in the channel that conducts the water to the sea when cheo the water is lot let out in the winter after being on my mission for eight months I 1 was called to preside over the Waira Wair rapa araps district by the president of the mi listion misti stion lOD elder W T ri shortly alter after this call elder GOO geo bowles who come came direct from zion joined me as traveling rider elder and companion on the morning of aug elder bowles aud and I 1 left Grey Urey town a small european city to visit all the branches of the church in the Waira rapa alter after a ride of 26 25 miles by horse we came to the native branch called to te Wai tapu and on nearing the la a village we were greeted by abe be old sounds which are familiar to now new zealand elders tons tens korus corua e boa ma haere mail ma haere mat mal 11 good day friendie frienda frien dp dik come comte corn I 1 after the usual greeting of bongi ll 11 or nose rubbing we turned our horses in the paid paddock dock after which we spent the remainder of the alter afternoon noon in talking with the native saints the PH is composed of eight or ten houses bouses built maori with roots roofs thatched with long grasi grams or straw and bark side walls on a little rise a few rods east of the I 1 pull pa stands the kadakia 11 or meeting house a neat little church built by the natives ibis was built european style for the church of england of which all natives tives were members mem ben at that time but when our elders made an appearance pe pear arance anoe in the pa and preached the he gospel of christ the natives were coo con averted aud and became members of the he church of jesus christ alter after baptism soot bo ot course the church of england minister lost his salary and phaltion po altion tion amongst the natives of to te we spent the evening of the day of 0 our arrival in holding kars kadakia ka rakia kial prayer meeting to is held by natives every morning and evening and aad oL Bisto of abong reading a chapter from the bible or book of 01 mormon and closes by prayer lasting tot tor about twenty minutes the following day aug we continued on onto to a village of twenty five native sainte and which to la the home of pirri to te maan one of the most influential maori chiefs on the island and also one of our best beat saints we were warmly greeted by them and shown to our room as they call it a room fitted up for the elders lder in european style we remained hero here over sunday and held bold sunday school reading from the first chapter of the book of mormon the father of moroni we hold held sacrament meeting at p elder bow lee and myself administering it rider eider bowles then naoke on the personality of the godhead and referred to the bible to substantiate his bis words closing by encouraging cou raging the saints to press on in their good works I 1 followed speaking on the gospel and its powers te re cering to pauls words romans 1 also that bat there was only one baith czuroh cht ephesians IV 5 and to dihe he words of jean john X 9 pilipi te maari followed speaking on sacrament and its institution by the savior sunday evening we spent telling the natives of the dedication of the great salt bait lake temple and translating to them the dedicatory prayer an a offered by president woodruff the natives were much pleased and asked us a great nin lauy uy questions on the same on awakening from our slumbers on monday the we beheld a beautiful spring morning and birds singing sweetly after breakfast we took a ride to the sea beach at cooks strait to gather sea shells and after remaining here for a few hours we wa commenced our return to on passing through anul a small email maori village we were hailed by a native woman saying tena teas hoa boa ma haere mal mai I 1 maua ki to te kaj kai good day friends come into our house and have something to eat we gladly complied compiled as we were quite hungry after our d days ay s ride after eating and talking with the natives awhile who were saints we continued on to Kon Kola unai unni where we arrived shortly before sundown wo we remained here till thursday morning the when we started en elk our return trip to Grey town we had a fine day for traveling and i when passing panning the suburbs of Grey town we saw maw a company of fox hunters men and women on horses with their hounds going for r ft hunt as is done very often in eng ena land it was a new zeland halfhill day as is overy avery thursday so no there were a great number of spectator on the grounds to watch the theobale theo chase base arriving at Grey town about 4 we turned our out and walked to kapawai Pa a bradsh of our church about two miles out east we renial remained ned here over night at brother aumeno cukuls residence reside nep who to Is a member of our church ama place is ie our headquarters qu artera where we keep our trunks etc we left here early on friday for carverton carterton Car tertOD where we had promised to spend the following sunday carter town tow D has baa a european branch of 43 members on arriving here we spent a row few hours houra at brother J C 16 and irom from there we went to 13 brother rothe r I 1 wileys wileya who is ia president pre aident ot the car branch and remained all nights on sundy sunday september Bep ard 3rd we held a theological class at the residence of brother J C peterson Pe tereon and at 2 pm we held a sacrament meeting at the aam place elder bowles was the first speaker and spoke on the kingdom ot of god comparing it 16 with other kingdoms kingdom I 1 followed comparing the command enta of god with the commandments of moo men and showed how the doctrine of jesus jess had been changed chanced by men who bad not the power to preach the CLOg gospel pel there were a nu number m her of strangers in attendance and they paid great attention to what was said three have applied for baptism we held a meeting again in the evening and had a fair attendance people seem to take more interest in the mormon elders now nov than they have done dene in the past at least it is the case in a great many places in now new zealand and we hope we will be able to do a good deal of good in spreading the gospel of lire and salvation before we leave this land it will be one year on the of this month since I 1 left home but the time hail ha gono goni so BO fast fait that I 1 can hardly realize I 1 have been here so long spring Is now flow coming and the grass la in growing nicely and the trees are in bloom while foil fall in ia drs wing nirh nigh in the fair vales of zion we e leave here in a few days day for grey town to spend a week weak there and and to got get our home mail which should arrive this week the mail steamers only arrive and leave here every four s so 80 you see ee we appreciate our news new frona from home when it does doea come the NEWS comes ii t hand band regularly slid and is read by the be elders and saint with much interest inte reet L G HOAGLAND p S mansion address grey town y Wair araps now new zealand |