November 23 Saturday – In Auckland, N.Z.: Sam’s notebook: to Kauri Gum establishment of Ameri firm of Arnold, Cheney & Co — large exporters to Amer [NB 34 TS 40].

In FE Sam related the process of mining petrified gum and making varnish from it, based closely on what Dr. J.L. Campbell had told him. Livy’s Nov. 24 to Sue Crane reveals they lunched this day at an estate called Bishopcourt, then went to a large garden between a lake and the harbor in the afternoon. Afterward, Colonel Burton entertained them for tea on his porch, which overlooked the Auckland harbor. Sam was still plagued by carbuncles [Shillingsburg, At Home 159].

On Star Hotel, Auckland letterhead, Sam wrote to Sarah G. Kinsey (Mrs. Joseph Kinsey, mother of May), thanking her for “the comfortable times spent” in her “hospitable house” in Christchurch. They were “plodding along comfortably & enjoying New Zealand thoroughly,” with their only complaint “that floating pig-sty” the Flora. Sam wished to be remembered to Mr. A.J. Peacock and Miss McCrae [MTP].