AUCKLAND.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3095, 30 May 1881, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

May 30,

An outhouse connected with a house occupied by Mr Cox, Devonport, has been destroyed by fire, caused by the explosion of gas, which he was in the habit of manufacturing. The loss is £40, and is uninsured.

A young man named Carlton, who arrived by the mail steamer, and went on in her to Sydney, related last night to Mr Bisher, of the Occidental, an account of a conversation he had at San Francisco with North, the Wellington levanter. Shortly after the former's arrival there by the last mail boat he said that the first Suuday be was at 'Frisco he visited Woodward's Gardens, in order to see some SDorts going on, and was surprised to perceive North there in company with a man named Street, who runs a large saloon. He went up aud shook hands with him. After the interchange of the usual commonplaces, North enquired what was thought of him in New Zealand, wheu Carlto(i replied that he had completely the sweepstake business there. North to be very jocular, and several times remarked in a tone of great glee, " didn't I give them a start ; I intended some day to do it." He professed willingness to pay anyone whom be should drop across. He said hia wife and family were one hundred miles up country ; that be had cleared out of Wellington with £4,600, and that he was then on his way to the Cape. He intended, however, in going through the States to lecture on the evil consequences of gambling—the disastrous results entailed upon young men by their weakness for sweeps. He drew attention to the slightly pock-pitted appearance of bis face, and in explanation said that on reaching Honolulu he went ashore and interviewed tbe Kiog and got gloriously drunk with him, and caught the small-pox, which was raging there at the time. He was put into a pest-house, and kept confined there for months. He bade Carlton good-bye, after desiring him to tell his New Zealand friends that he intended coming back and giving them another turn some day.