December 5, 1895

Mark Twain was in Whanganui December 3-5 and December 7-9, 1895. On December 8, a Sunday, he took a river boat excursion that included a visit to Moutoa Gardens and saw a monument dedicated to those killed in the Battle of Moutoa Island, which took place in 1864. This visit prompted him to write a rather powerful and poignant statement about patriotism. He was misinformed or at least mis-remembered the visit. The monument morphed into two separate monuments, in his mind.

December 2, 1895
Chapter 34, Following the Equator

November 27, 1895

The family celebrated Livy’s birthday aboard the Rotomahana, which arrived in Hawke’s Bay a mile from Gisborne, and, some 20 hours from Auckland, three hours ahead of schedule. Sam described the ship as “roomy, comfortable, well-ordered, and satisfactory” [FE ch XXXIV 315]. Due to high seas the ship could not dock. Sam watched as the Greenwood Theatrical Co. and four prisoners, disembarked in a basket over the rough seas into the small steam launch Snark for transport to shore. As a result of the

November 26-28, 1895

November 26 Tuesday – The Clemens party sailed from Auckland at 3 p.m. on the Union Co.’s Rotomahana. Shillingsburg: “They had arrived at Auckland’s western port near Onehunga, crossed through the city and departed from the northeastern shore on their way to Gisborne and Napier on the eastcoast” [At Home 161]. (MTDBD)

Chapter 33, Following the Equator

November 26—3 P.M., sailed.

Chapter 33, Following the Equator

November 20-26, 1895

Chapter 33, Following the Equator

November 18, 1895

Chapter 33, Following the Equator

We soon reached the town of Nelson, and spent the most of the day there, visiting acquaintances and driving with them about the garden—the whole region is a garden, excepting the scene of the "Maungatapu Murders," of thirty years ago. That is a wild place—wild and lonely; an ideal place for a murder. It is at the base of a vast, rugged, densely timbered mountain.

Chapter 32, Following the Equator

After a wait of three hours we got good rooms in the Mahinapua, a wee little bridal-parlor of a boat—only 205 tons burthen; clean and comfortable; good service; good beds; good table, and no crowding. The seas danced her about like a duck, but she was safe and capable.

November 16-17, 1895

Chapter 32, Following the Equator

Sunday, 17th. Sailed last night in the Flora, from Lyttelton. So we did. I remember it yet. The people who sailed in the Flora that night may forget some other things if they live a good while, but they will not live long enough to forget that. The Flora is about the equivalent of a cattle-scow; but when the Union Company find it inconvenient to keep a contract and lucrative to break it, they smuggle her into passenger service, and "keep the change."