Ogden Sun | 1905-08-29 | Page 6 | Maori Convert to Mormon Faith Held by Authorities

MAORI CONVERT TO MORMON FAITH HELD BY AUT HORmES the san francisco examiner ot wednesday says all day long yesterday little keita mete the twelve year old maori maid who came from new zealand with four mormon elders sat in the second cabin saloon of the ventura to await with placidity the final decree of the immigration authorities who have her case under investigation kelta or kate as she is translated into english la a dusky moonfaced moon faced child fond of confining her conversation to monosyllables and her detention aboard the ship that brought her to this port is the result of a doubt on the part of the immigration inspectors as to she is likely to become a public charge after she reaches her destina aton in utah seems to have no doubt under this head hertelt here elt and as those in charge pt her have a great deal of documentary evidence to prove that she will be properly care of it appears probable that kelta will be set free today immigration inspector griffiths who refused to let keila land at once when the ventura docked monday afternoon says that his attitude was caused by the fact that there is a constant stream of young giris passing through san francisco in the custody of mormon elders and that he thinks it wise to find out how these children were induced to come here and what disposition is going to be made of them before allowing them to escape official scrutiny to this statement joseph thompson the only one of the tour elders with acita who was not quarantined at angel island because of lack of replies that the history and goal of his temporary ward are in no wise doubtful he says that deltas father tame meto or tom smith Is a well known merchant of in new zealand that he is a mormon convert that kelta herself has been educated as a mormon and that she is going for further schooling at salt lake city where she will live with her uncle and aunt hirial and mere Wha anga immigrants of twelve years residence and leaders of tha maori aristocracy A telegram has been sent by the immigration authorities to Wha anga asking him to verify thompsons Thomp sons assertions sert ions and as soon as a satisfactory reply Is received kelta will be on her way