Show written W len for 94 this paper AMONG THE the bills and yale vales of Maur idom have now assumed their spring attire Pa kehas anu mauris equally lu in the fact that winter ha has paused passed and the murmon mormon elder with a sign sigh ot of relief prepares to enjoy his hie travels thy the law late winter has baa been unusually severe 3 nd disastrous floods have occurred io in various parts of the island malkito has suffered very muen as aa t u vast area of land has baa been inundated and both races have been dependent upon other localities for relief homes ho men and crops have been washed away in many places and the calamities have been increased by con COD magimus diseases which have made sao ai havoc amongst among fit the people elders eldera laboring in th emission have bave therefore had to travel under adverse circum stances Hta ocee and in some rome localities have been unable to reach their branches branc bea the ministrations auto the sick nick have occupied considerable linae ilme and much good has haa resulted reaul ted from their faithful eff orla in oprina and summer it is quite u i to pleasant traveling on bor horseback b but ut tue too winter rains and floods render it il undesirable but it cannot be avoided during the stormy season the rivers are very high and at times it is impossible impo wible to crow creep ao an bider recently attempted to ford such aboh a stream and reau reached tied the opposite bank by remaining on ills his faithful nag while it swam somes across he had bad the pleasure then of and basking banking in the sunshine while his clothes dried in the district about tt attree ree miles of the main con county uty road to Is under water which la in some gome places is io about four feet deep horsemen however can travel along by kneel log ing oo on their saddles of course this thia condition only exists in the jollying Jow low lying districts district and sonjo some patte parts of we tte tt e country have not had to contend with these drawbacks the government have promptly aided those who have suf areu jones through the floour and the legislature legia lature is now endeavoring to solve the problem what shall ball be done with thos the unemployed eu 1 this is becoming a serious question in the colony as the depression and distress in australia have caused large numbers to flock into the bieter colony the native land question que is also a perplexing I 1 r the lawmakers law makers makere but the he most moat prominent I 1 au subject b act Is the demand for the sup or control of the liquor traffic by the district veto power A vigorous camp campaign has baa been conducted for many MADY years on this topic and the advocates of ef the measure now believe they are on the eve of victory they are encouraged by the tact fact that the woman sull suffrage rage question is ia settled after a long and protracted struggle the fair sex buve conquered new no zealand now leads in the van of political progress under the british flag bag the isle of man certainly extends the irai ra dobise equally unto both sexes bas baa ing ng it on a property qualification but the women of new zealand may justly claim to be the airet fintis I 1 ta her majesty ma esty dominions who have bee a enfranchised by virtue of their womanhood they 1 bre re now registering registe by the thousands and the coming comina electoral campaign will be watched wi with great Inter In lerent mt it is ia conno entry hoped that the extended franchise will aid in ameliorating the social evils now existing and promote the moral and intellectual interests of the col ny three elders from zion arrived by the he conowal last month namely elders ridge bidger young and johnson the first named continued his journey to australia having been ab assigned signed to labor among the europeans there elder young will labor in the dietrict and elder johnson in waldau A recent visit to hawkes bay necessitated al bated a horseback ho ride tb through rough mana aatu gorge this pats through the mountains has been previously described in the NEWS railway traffic Is often impeded and the tb wagon road has many times been impossible impassible the precipitous hillsides hill sides are densely covered with timber and the loose forms forma ahn causes dangerous laud land slips during the stormy seasor and they have been very frequent during the past winter the wagon road is necessarily very narrow and a force of men arecton are constantly employed clearing away the brush and rocks the narrow marow dugway is about four miles long aud and is about fifty feet above the river when the elder en route for hawkes bay conference entered upon it a fierce gale was blowing and the tollgate toll gate keeper advised them to ride rapidly through to avoid the falling failing rocks the counsel was readily observed though many wistful gl noes noe were cast up the threatening heights and much relief was experienced when the dangerous pass was wae crossed and the falling rocks and boulders loosened loos eceil by the wind were heard beard plunging into the surging stream below on reaching woodville Wooi iville a desiro desir tor for a meeting was expressed which wars wan acceded to this is a email small european town of about five hundred inhabitants A few hours were spent inviting the people to attend meeting and at 7 velock a large congregation wals wai as aa sm sem bled blea I 1 at the request of a me member meniver niber of his hie flock the minister was present with his hie large bible evidently intent on confounding these unpopular preachers of false doc doctrines trinen 19 great attention w 8 9 paid while the first principles of the he gospel were commented upon and the rob on and establishment of the true church ot of christ was wag lully fully explained the ministerial visitor meanwhile taking note nobe at the close of the meeting questions wore were solicited and a long list was ou submitted 6 mitt edby by the gentleman referred to the first request being for a si ei n cacti query gave additional opportunity for making plain the revealed plan of life and ald salvation and an interesting debato debate continued till about mid ight the quarterly conference of hawkes buy bay district was held bold at on sunday oct but it was not dot attended as largely as usual as many of the members were away at work the beep abeel shearing season having opened it was therefore deemed advisable to dispense with saturdays saturday 18 meetings and hold bold four meetings adga on the sabbath the elders from zion present were W gibson and F W No beker conference was waa called to older at 7 a m by elder W gibson there was a good attendance and an address was delivered by elder gibson gibeon who greeted the samis saints and expressed his bis joy oy in his bis labors us as a servant of god he explained fully the abe duties devolving upon the be mm mem m m here bers and exhorted them theiu to abandon all evil and serve god faithfully after a short address by a native elder eider pera the meeting was to 10 o boluck oo luok at which time a secord decoud meeting was hold held in which spir itou addresses were delivered by three of the abe native mem bere viz fatima bakana and Hot flot arane sacrament meeting was held at 2 ol clocks and a number or of outsiders iders were present alter the OPOL opel lag exercises and the administration of the lords lord 19 supper elder B goddard greeted the members ol of hawkes bay district aud and expressed express eu his bin pleasure in being present he referred to the labors of the elders a monget amongst the aud and the great work now going on i the he temples of the lord in he testified to the i fulfillment fulfilment ol of the prophecy coLita ined in malachi ill 5 6 and urged the maori saint to be faith ul that they might have the privilege ot laboring in the huse of GA he also alao warned them of some of the prevalent evils evil in their midst elder gibson continued this subject speaking fully upon the plan of salvation revea revealed leil in the latter days and showing how bow the spirits in prison will hae the gospel ordinances ministered unto them he urged the native to study these theae principles and to bear testimony unto the good neeson god in restoring the primitive ordinances of the gospel in the evening at six alx o a tob teb timboy meeting was held which continued about four hours a large number of members bearing faithful mon lei it may merest interest the saints in zoa zion to learn how the spirit of testimony tesi moDy rests upon the faithful aith lul members of the church amongst the maori people abe native members may not dot possess the advantages of education and culture but many of them have learnel the power of faith and can rely upon givs promises promised in lite or death one young sister bister bore testimony unto the love and mercy of god as manifested in in behalf of her ber child lu in great humility but with heartfelt heart felt gratitude she be described now how her babe wan sick unto death and the anguish of her soul to see flee it ready to pass away all ali efforts to raise it appeared u tia ug but she and her husband fasted three days and prayed to we the lord continually in its behalf the ane child was wae saved and the moth mo theia evs face was radiant with the spirit of the gospel as she ahe testified unto the saving power 01 bod goda s ordinances ordina noea A few pointed remarks from the president of the district closed a very enjoyable conference the maoris laoris at are comfortably fort ably situated but a great many ol of them have not yet yei received the gospel judging from many inquiries from froin zion baoy of tile dalati are nut not familiar ta with ane early history or present condition of the maoris laoris but these slit subjects in must be deferred for the present ISuf suffice floo it to say eay that tue maori people are far in advance ol of many other races on oil the pacific isles rhey are now taking greater interest I 1 lu u improving their social condition an aej of late years quite an interest has beau taken in musical matters many braso brase banua have been organized amongst them aud the members are doieg boiu fairly well A band has been organized at Wai pawa paws fur for which a lull set of silver instruments inet nave have been imported at a cost of 2500 such expenditures will demonstrate that aitu the mauri maori race the da daa sot of cannibalism and barbarism are past and they appear no longer dressed only in sunshine rod and smiles smile 11 II I W A N Z oo oc t 2 1898 1899 |