December 10 Tuesday – In Wellington, N.Z. a reporter from the Evening Post called on Sam at Moeller’s Occidental Hotel. Sam related the nine-hour train trip from Wanganui, the “continual stoppages at little stations, where apparently nothing was done” and the jolting ride.

Livy was reported as saying that she hoped they would,

…find some nice quiet spot in Africa where crocodiles and irritating insects of the genus homo would not be too numerous, and where the customs of the country would allow interviewers and autograph hunters to be shot on sight, and there, under the gentle protection of the family Maxim gun, composition might go on undisturbed [Shillingsburg, At Home 177]. Note: this sounds more like Sam than Livy.

During the day Sam visited David Boyle (1833-1915) also known as Lord Glasgow, Governor of New Zealand (1892-7). In the evening Sam gave his “At Home” lecture at the Wellington Opera House, tickets from four to one shilling each. Reviews published: Dec. 11 Evening Post; New Zealand Times; Dec. 12: “Scrutator” New Zealand Mail; Dec. 14: New Zealand Times Supplement. After the lecture Sam was entertained at supper by the Wellington Club [Shillingsburg “Down Under” 29; NB 34 TS 51]. 

Regius Manufacturing Co., Chicago, having liquidated all assets, sent Orion Clemens $14 [MTP]. Note: this was the Chicago machine shop left over from the Paige typsetter involved in the manufacture of typewriters.