Kaindi - Lae Called next at the sub-district office in Wau to see ADO Jim Sinclair. Very cordial. Half sick with the mysterious "Echo 6" for the past ten days. The Wau-Bulolo district has been hardest hit in the Territory with this complaint. Sinclair an ardent camera man (Contax). Has in his office some exhibition grade portraits of natives of the Highlands. Next call was at the Forests Office at Bulolo. Met there Don Mackintosh, Regional Forest Officer; friendly, forceful young fellow recently returned from leave in Australia. Forest Officer Joe Havel had freshly collected specimens of Araucaria klinkii and A. cunninghamii for me; a bandicoot and a pale brown Melomys for Van. Asked if he could spend a few days with us on Mt. Wilhelm. Agreed, if he can get official permission. The experience of such a visit would greatly assist in rounding off his knowledge of the mountain flora and ecology for future use in the Forest Ranger's School. Arrived at Mick Leahy's Zenag property a little before noon, where we stayed for an excellent roast duck lunch. Many people call at Zenag. Visitor's book has signatures from round the world, the most prized one being that of Prince Philip, with a page to itself. While we were there an old-time labor office man, Jerry Brown, called in with a visiting official from Canberra in his charge. Spirited discussion with Mick on the native labor situation; whole thing out of hand; UN interference; wishy-washy officials of the post war crop; contracts not enforceable under the regulations and smart natives taking advantage of this. Brown agreed to most of it, which in the presence of the Canberra official, took some courage. Mick, since the war, has done a good job of farm development; beef and dairy cattle, slaughterhouse, piggery, 6000 chickens, a duck pond, vegetable farm, etc. Three of 4 white men and 70-80 natives employed. Milk deliveries in Lae (about 50 miles) and Bulolo (about 20 miles). Shop in Lae selling fresh vegetables, eggs, poultry, and meat from his farm. Grows feed grain (corn and sorghum) on a big farm at Erap in the Markham Valley, about 70? miles from Zenag. Next stop was at Gurakor. Found Mrs. Horrolt sick in bed from a relapse of Echo 6 or what you, and Horrolt stricken with the same thing and barely able to get around. Our last call was at Lionel Baker's plantation. Lionel had 3 Pogonomys and several small Pipistrellus in pickle for Van. Lae has cooled down noticeably since the onset of the SE and their wet season. Roadside vegetation washed clean of the gray dust of the coast and mountains of these parts. Gave the cook a spell and ate at the hotel, partly to see what other people looked like. Afterwards dropped in to see a basketball game at a hall owned by the hotel (Hotel Cecil, managed by Mrs. Dorothy Stewart, now owned by Morobe Hotels Ltd.). Hotel had a bar there. No admission charge. Very spirited game between Army (Volunteer Rifles, the only military force here) and Voco (Vacuum Oil employees). Sort of Rugby rules. Few restrictions, not many whistles, no dancing girls. Both sides weak on the bag. Scores 7 to 2. Friday, May 29. Van packing specimens most of the day. Myself packing collecting supplies for transport to Goroka on our Land Rover Monday, if we can get away them. We will lay down a dump of about 2 months' collecting supplies at Goroka and leave other stuff to be forwarded by govt. charter flights to where we need them on the lower Highlands.