He himself is at present frightfully busy with local preparations for the Centenary and with cables and correspondence--but he wishes you all to know that his thoughts will be with you on this glorious day of the 100th anniversary of the Báb’s declaration, and he will pray for all the New Zealand Bahá’ís in the Holy Shrines. With most loving greetings and best wishes from the Guardian for the success of all your plans. Yours with Bahá’í love, R. Rabbani P.S. He appreciated very much your sending Naw-Rúz greetings. [From the Guardian:] _May the Beloved bless your efforts, guide your steps, sustain you in your devoted endeavours, and enable you to promote effectively the best interests of His Faith._ _Your true and grateful brother, _ _ Shoghi_ (56) December 18th, 1949 Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Auckland, N.Z. Dear Bahá’í friends: Your letter of October 25th was received and our Guardian was delighted to hear the details of this property you have purchased, and which he trusts will grow to be a very important Bahá’í endowment. He will be pleased to receive the pictures of it. He felt that no name could be more befitting than that of dear father Dunn. May the spirit this wonderful soul exemplified stream forth from your school and quicken those Islands. With Bahá’í greetings, R. Rabbani P.S. Since writing this letter yours of Nov. 29 has been received. He will certainly pray for the success of your Summer School sessions so soon to begin and for the speedy development of the new school property you have just purchased. [From the Guardian:] _May the Almighty bless bountifully your meritorious labours, guide and sustain you, at all times and under all circumstances, aid you to overcome every obstacle that confronts you and enable you to lend a tremendous impetus, in the days to come, to the progress of your historic work in that promising and far-away Island._ _Your true and grateful brother, _ _ Shoghi_ (57) June 28th, 1950 The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Australia and New Zealand. Dear Bahá’í Friends: ...As Mrs Axford requested Mrs Thomas to write about her Bahá’í life there is every reason to respect her wishes. This in no way precludes the New Zealand Community from writing about her services and life and keeping this record in the National archives. The Guardian feels the Auckland Assembly should be consulted, as her, (Mrs Axford’s), home community, by Mrs Thomas. He hopes this In Memoriam article, about so dear and tireless a servant of the Faith, will produce a spirit of love and co-operation amongst all concerned.... The acquisition of the site for the New Zealand Summer School was a great step forward in the progress of the Faith there, and he was very pleased about it. He was also delighted to hear of the formation of the Devonport Assembly, and he hopes next year there will be still more.... (Extract, ibid., p. 83) (58) November 1st, 1950