NORTH, THE WELLINGTON LEVANTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3382, 30 May 1881, Page 3

NORTH, THE WELLINGTON LEVANTER.

A Carouse at Honolulu and its

Results,

The Swindle)' Tuimint/ Moral

Lecturer

Through the courtesy of Mr Fisher, of the Occidental Hotel, wo have been placed in possession of the narrative of an interview which a friend of his, named Carlton, hud with Christopher North (the levanting Wellington publican) at fcjan Francisco just prior to the departure of the mail steamer. It will bo possessed of some interest, not only for the victims ot North's dishonesty, tmt also fur the general public. Carltou left New Zealand for California some two , mouths ago, and he returned yesterday en route for Sydney, and it was while ho was^ ashore here lust night conversing upon lua American experiences that he narrated the story to which we have referred. He said that on the Sunday alter his arrival in Vrisco ho went to Woodward'.s Guldens fa popular place of resort) for tho purpose of witnessing Bonic sports whicu bad been announced to take place there. While lie was strolling about he suddenly espied North in the company of a ealoon keeper named Street, brother of a quondam professor of the tonisonal art ia Auckland. Having been well acquainted with the levauter at Wellington he at once went up to him, and was immediately rccogmsul^ aud welcomed. NORTH'S JUCULAKITV. Alter an interchange of the usual common places the conversation dlifted round to the state ot thiugs in New | Zealand whereupon North enquired with evident interest what was thought of his escapade. Carlton replied that ne had completely spoilt the sweepstake business by destroying the public confidence in the promoters of such schemes. North was very jocose, laughed frequently and in great glee, exclaimed at short intervals "By jove I did them well," '• Didn't I give them a b start, eh Boss," "That's lay trouble, old man," etc. He Baid that he had cleared out with £4600, that he was willing to pay any of his debtors whom he might drop across and that if Carlton had any clnim against him he was willing to discharge it. I Carlton, however, had not been bitten, aud therefore preferred no claim. HIGH JINKS AT HONOLULU. North then proceeded to describe his adveuturcs since leaving Auckland. After ciillintr attontiou to the fact that his face was slightly poekpitted he said that on reaching Honolulu he went ashore, got " on the booze," and missed lm passage. He secured an introduction to the King, joined htm iv a round of conviviality and made him gloriously drunk, the carousals ending with North being laid up with the small-pox. He was taken to a pest-house and confined there ior a month despite all his protests and appeals to be allowed to continue his journey. When at last he did regain his liberty he lost no time iv quitting the plague-stricken town and its ungrateful monarch. A PREACHING TOUR. I He also remarked that his wife and family were sojourning in one of the country dis. tricts of California, 100 miles away, and that he himself was just " knocking about" seeing the lions of the place prior to commencing a preaching tour throughout the I States. He had heard that lecturing was a / aood line of business, and he intended delivering a series ot discourses on "The Evils of Gambling," with special reference to ths growing popularity of sweepstakes and their ruinous effects upon young men. His ultimate destination was the Cape of Good Hope, where he purposed settling down and enjoying life. A PARTING PROMISE. They talked together for some time longer, and North eventually took his leave, after desiring Carlton to inform enquiring friends in New Zealand that he was "'coming back some day to give them another turn." He appeared quite indifferent to the possibility of the news of his swindle getting abroad, and he heard with unmistakeable pleasure the consternation which his flight had created. He was very jocular, and laughed immoderately over the matter,