A MORMON GATHERING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11248, 11 April 1908, Page 2

A MORMON GATHERING.

Writing of the Morman gathering at Nuhaka the Wairoa Mail states that there were 400 to 500 people present (inc'liiding the local Natives). A temporary eating-house, 100 feet long, was erected, containing thirteen tables with sitting accommodation far over 150. A number of spaces are fenced off for use as cooking places. Strings of eels hang suspended ; there are also muttonbirds and slabs of hvhale flesh m additon^ to beef, mutton and pork. s ln one o*r two places there are large \vopdr cii canoes in' v which potatoes,- "j kumeras and pumpkin^ , sire being peeled v and washeck . Bread and cake of; -".various jß.mtg'vi}i t e,- ; :in-ia|> i uii4aiice.-ji Here' one sees a lioiler containing ' fowls cooking, and there another full of plum- puddings^ The tables were spread with snowy tablecloths, with full supplies of crockery, cutlery,' cruets, etc., all new looking. In fact the tables would be a credit to a well-kept hotel. The arrangements are .well- planned and all the operations carried out with perfect order. The meetings are held m a marquee, about 40ft by- 10ft, said to haye cost £60. Sleeping accommodation is provided chiefly m the Mormon Church and! a meeting house. A series of by-laws have been posted m English and Maori. Persons breaking these laws ',will. be severely dealt with, or fined." Then follows a long list of offences with the fines for committing them, ranging from 2s 6d ,to. £10. No dog is allowed at large, and some sixty or more may be seen chained up m rows to the, fences. When these animals raise their voices m united chorus the noise can be imagined. : Groups of Elders and the Maoris are scattered over the ground, sitting or standing, and. talking and laughing and apparently thoroughly enjoying them•selves. The majority of tlie Maoris are young, very' few of the older generation being present. They are niostly all well dressed— -in fact, many of the women are like Solomon m all his glory. •■!■ ; V

The visiting contingents were greeted with hakas of welcome.

The bulk o£ the time is taken up with, religious services.. A well-trained choir of thirty or forty voices sings the hymns very nicely, ,and .solos and part songs are given by some of the Elders. Tha solos are such songs as "Rocked m the Cradle of the Deep," "A Dream of Paradise," etc. The prayers and addresses, are all m the Maori tongue. The floor of the marque is covered with mats, and on these most of the congregation sit or recline, the principal personages, and the choir occupying seats at one end. Four or "five young men, with long rods m their hands, stand on duty to see that none of. the congregation sleeps. The unwary person, who nods, or closes his or her eyes for but a few seconds, is quickly detected by these keen-eyed watchers, and a prod m the ribs or a tiip on the head quickly arouses the offender. On Sunday a number of the settlers from the surrounding district visited the pa, aiid were made heartily welcome. A special service m English was held for them m the afternoon. At this ■ the speakers explained some of the main features of their religion. On Monday evening the hui concludes, though a large number of the visitors will not get away for a clay or two after that. A number of the Elders are leaving for their home on. the 15th inst., having finished their three years' term m the Dominion.