Friday June 29: Still no sigh of the"Betty Ann." Moreover about 11 o'clock Lionel and Rus returned from-Nou Nou in Mrs. Gribben's small launch, bringing the news that that the ship had left Nou-Nou Wednesday some time for Ricky Leach's planta- tion at the north end of Goodenough Island. Expecting to meet the Betty Ann this evening or in the morning, I left the beach camp for Nou-Nou at 11:20 and arrived there two oClock. Heavy rain most of the way; steering- blind, but very little sea in the deep water of the strait. Mrs. (Anna G.) Gribben has had a trade store at Nou-Nou since the end of 1953. She has built well, of European materials; has a very comfortable and tasteful house. Piano, electric from a small Southern Cross diesel plant; but no septic system. A water sup- ply will soon be piped down from the hills. Her house, also labor houses, mosquito- screened. Is building a branch store on Magifa Iskand; her husband (Ted) recently opened at Mapomoiva on Fergusson Island. Says they are doing well.Native produce mostly raw co- conuts which natives carry in in bunches of four hung on poles (price a penny each; 12 for a stick of tobacco). A fair amount of black lip shell (a shilling each) and truchus shell being brought in, mostly by Magifa people, who dive for it. Vendors receive cash on the spot for produce, then, after a pause of varying length, hand back the shilling or two bob for tobacco, white rice, ship's biscuit, etc. Mrs. G. has a very good stock of trade goods; makes women's dresses and children's clothingon a sewing machine; even sells bread (2/- a loaf) when asked for it. Nou-Nou is in Mud Bay a little to the north of Wailagi, head station of the Metho- dist Mission on Goodenough. Said to be two white nursing sisters at Wailagi. Mission ex- pected to be self-supporting, says Mrs. G. Annual drive for funds in August. Last year Wailagi collected over 1100 pounds, A lot of labor-payoff money comes to Goodenough. War damage payment still being hoarded in the villages. Every now and then American and Japanese notes are brought in. Roman Catholic Mission has recently established a mission in Mud Bay with about half a dozen converts (?) from methodism. Father Abbott, in charge, lives at Watalumaon the north end of the island. Visits Mud Bay once a month to celebrate mass. Saturday June 30: Still at Nou-Nou, enjoying the hospitality of Mrs. Gribben. Roast lamb for dinner last night; filet steak and eggs for breakfast this morning. Stilll no appearance of the "Betty Ann", but there is a native report that yesterday some time she passed Nuatutu en route to Wadelei in Hughes Bay. A proper mess up. Walked in the morning to the head of Mud Bay where , near Alcaravia village, there is a hot spring. Water hot enough to give off steam, but is bathed in by natives. Akaravia seems to be the name of the hot water as well as the village. Lalang grassland on the steep slopes of the hills and low mountains gives way to rain forest second growths in the head of the bay. Some sago and mangos on the coast. The mission has the use of extensive garden lands on the slopes. According to Mrs. G. a boy or girl child is acceptable at the mission school only if they are big enough and able to do garden work. "Betty Ann" came into Nou-Nou at 6:15 PM and immediately began to load 52 bags of co- pra from Mrs. Gribben's storehouse (about 14 bags to the long ton) The native captain such a timid-appearing elderly Milne Bay man that I I did not have much to say to him about his long delay, which has cost us four valuable days of working time. Sunday July 1: Very heavy rain between about 12:20 and four o'clock last night. Small creek at Nou-Nou roaring in flood, and rocks in its bed grinding loudly. Boarded the "Betty Ann" as day was about to break (6 o'clock) and by 6:30, having bailed the whale-boat in tow and pumped a lot of water from her bilge the Betty Ann's gray