Confusion Worse Confounded.

Staying in the hotel at the time was Mr. Lake Michigan Butler, an American gentleman who had injured his health owing to strenuous operations in connection with a business deal. Having brought the deal to a satisfactory conclusion he decided to take a trip to New Zealand to page 46 page 47 recuperate. He had some dealings in “petroleum ile,” otherwise kerosene (the need for gasoline not having then arisen), and hoped, in order to increase the interest of his visit, to negotiate some sales, and, if possible, to establish a regular supply. He had been as far south as Dunedin, then the principal business centre, and was returning homeward. He had been fairly successful, and on the day after Mr. Bolton's arrival was leaving Lyttelton by the express mail steamer “Takapuna,” for Onehunga, to join the San Francisco steamer at Auckland. Mr. Butler was accompanied by his wife, but as prior to their visit, they believed New Zealand to be one of the Cannibal Islands, though it seemed there was business to be done there, they had not brought an extensive wardrobe. They were leaving Christchurch by the 2.45 p.m. train, and had entrusted their luggage to the hotel porter to be taken to the station, and see that it was loaded into the truck for the steamer. Having satisfied Mr. Butler that his luggage was on the train, the hotel gorier obtained a lift on a returning express, and reached the hotel in a few minutes. His consternation on seeing, standing in the hall, a large American trunk with the initials L.M.B. painted conspicuously on the end, may be well imagined.