I understand that there has been wrangling and political wire pulling in the formerly good N.G. Naturalists Club. And that the club is no longer very active. Alf Read is now president. Somehow, the club's museum has passed into the hands of Bob Hunter, who calls himself "Tropical Tours," and is part of a display which tourists pay to see. Hugh Fisher, formerly of Wenlock, called to see me, now has a carrying business in Cairns and is much interested in growing orchids. His brother Joe, now a qualified mining engineer, manages a uranium mine in West Australia. Has lately got out the world's biggest specimen of pitchblend, weighing over 2,000 lbs. Tuesday January 15: Fairly fine day and rather hot. Temperatures here are not nearly as oppressive as in Samarai, Port Moresby and Lae. Was interviewed at the hotel by two young men from the Cairns radio station and made a recording on our work in New Guinea, it's extension over the years and it's meaning. Another example of nice equipment going wrong in the tropics is my National Geographic Photographic case. Had to have it opened by a locksmith this morning. Could not unlock it when going through customs on Saturday. Had Alf Read to lunch. He has been president of the Nats Club for the past 8 years. No one else will have the job and doubt if Alf contributes much brilliance to the club. Club still publishes it's small journal and has over 100 members, mainly non-resident, who pay only 10/- a year. Called on Dr. H. Flecker, radiologist, founder of the Naturalists Club and now 72 years old. Has slipped a lot in the past 9 years. Says the club and it's museum are ruined. George Brooks and Ernie Stephens being the leading wreckers. Later visited the "Tropical Attractions" show of Bob Hunter in Harbour Board buildings on the water front. One long room contains Hunters own amateurist collection of insects, etc. Another houses the "North Queensland Museum" collections, mainly ethnological. Fair number of mammals, a few from the AMNH. Mostly local specimens collected by Gordon Stephens and badly prepared. A girl in charge keeps the rooms and cases clean, but the inside of many of Hunters' poorly labelled cases are in bad mess with dust. Admission charge 2/-. Six other tourists there during my visit. Wednesday January 16: Left Cairns 8:10 A.M. on TAA convair "William Dampier". Landed Townsville 9:15 left there 9:55. An extra heavy load (the plane seats 40) obliged us to make an unscheduled landing at Rocklampton for fuel (11:55 - 12:25). Arrived New Farm Airport, Brisbane, at 2:05 P.M. A good smooth flight but visibility poor. Streams turbid from Cairns to near Brisbane. Staying with sister Edna H nderson at the suburb of Hawthorne.