November 7 Thursday – Sam wrote in FE and in his notebook of Dunedin and events there:

The town justifies Michael Davitt’s praises. The people are Scotch. They stopped here on their way from home to heaven — thinking they had arrived. The population is stated at 40,000, by Malcom Ross, journalist; stated by an M.P. at 60,000. A journalist cannot lie.

To the residence of Dr. Hockin. He has a fine collection of books relating to New Zealand; and his house is a museum of Maori art and antiquities [FE ch. XXX 287].

Sam’s notebook:

Nov. 7. Australasia with its specialties of piety & horse-racing, would be heaven for George [Griffin]. (Tell about him.)

Livy, Clara & I went to Dr. Hockin’s house, saw his wife & young daughter & him. Noble collection of books relating to N.Z. Gave me his translation of Tasman’s diary. He gave us a piece of Kava root, lignified caterpillar with 4-inch-long stem growing out of back of its neck — another of Nature’s infernal inventions for the infliction of needless suffering [NB 34 TS 30-1].

Note: Dr. Thomas M. Hocken gave Sam his translation of Abel Janszoon Tasman’s (1603-1659) diary; Shillingsburg’s “Down Under, etc.” says that Sam was greatly impressed with pictures of the Maori tattoos. 

At the City Hall in Dunedin Sam gave another performance of his “At Home” program, modified. Appearing on stage out of breath, he explained that he had gotten lost while sightseeing and had been wandering around for three-quarters of an hour. He introduced a new story to the program, his 1880 story, “Mrs. McWilliams and the Lightning.” After this lecture Sam often included the sketch [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 22]. He called the lecture “big house, good time” [NB 34 TS 30].