-141- Thursday, November 12, 1953: Left Samarai by Sandringham flying boat at 9:15 and arrived Port Moresby about 11 o'clock. The nurse who was to have accompanied Geoff was down with influenza and was replaced by European Medical Assistant Jeffers. The pilot was asked not to fly above 5000 feet. At Pt. Moresby Dr. Gunther came aboard to examine Geoff. He had planned (unknown to me) to hold him for observation for a couple of days, but as the flight from Samarai was without ill effects this precaution was thought unnecessary. The flying boat took off for Cairns about 12:30. My afternoon spent on official calls - Gov't Secretary, Dept. Agriculture, Dept. District Services, Gov't Anthropologist. At Agriculture, Acting Director F. C. Henderson showed me a copy of a permit to export our collections which he had signed on Monday. It was a reasonable document granting the permit on condition that we leave duplicates in the Territory or return them from the U.S. The telegraphed demand that we got in Samarai was the work of some junior. Anthropologist Julius had recommended to his chief, Director of District Services & Native Affairs, that we be allowed to export our ethnological collections, but the memo was lost on somebody's desk. Have promised the Administration a male and female of each species or form of mammal, reptile, amphibian and fish collected, where duplicates are available. My proposal that the material be sent to the Queensland Museum for safe keeping until the establishment of a proposed museum in Port Moresby was agreed to. Friday, November 13, 1953: Called on the Administrator, Mr. (ex Brigadier) D. M. Cleland, Gov't Secretary S. Lonergan, Director of Forests James McAdam, Ivan Champion, and finally F. Lee, Chief Collector of Customs. Lee has refused to budge from his position that we must pay duty unless it is waived by the Administrator with the approval of the Executive Council, as provided by law. He was to have presented the case to a meeting of the Council held this morning, but running true to form, did not do so. The Council will meet again on Monday. Cleland assured me that we would not have to pay duty. Arranged with the Bank to remit back to New York 2000 surplus dollars. Have left about $900 here to cover obligations we will have for freight, etc., the account to be closed on my instructions from the U.S. when all accounts have been paid by Buntings. Dined this evening with Claude Champion and his wife ("Pin"). Have known them since the mid-thirties (at Daru). Claude, as Asst. Gov't Secretary, has handled all expedition affairs. Mick and Molly Healy also guests. Saturday, November 14, 1953: Lee assured me yesterday that he had radioed an export clearance on our collections to Samarai. Feeling it unsafe to take the word of such a man, and not wishing to leave the country until the collections were cleared, I spoke with Dusty Miller by radiophone this morning (over an hour spent in getting through). Samarai has received the clearance. I will fly to Brisbane tomorrow.