November 3 Sunday – A cold south wind blew on the Tasman sea, and Sam stayed in bed on board the Mararoa en route to New Zealand. He gathered some information by visiting the smoking lounge, and made entries in his notebook about Victorian railroads, convicts, aboriginals, rabbits, and other details that struck his fancy and imagination. Clara recalled him singing and playing the piano on this voyage. Other passengers were the Irish nationalist Michael Davitt, journalist Malcom Ross, and Carlyle G. Smythe, Sam’s agent and guide [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 21].

On board the Mararoa, Livy wrote to her sister Sue Crane that she and Clara would not disembark until Dunedin. She also described the social events of Sydney and Melbourne. “People are good and kind to us everywhere, and we get a most lively interest in them, and dislike leaving them.” Sam’s carbuncle was “almost well” [MTP].