Yacht "France" Dec 6 Light SE breeze, fine clear Bar 30.05 Mr Beck landed at 4/2 A.M. after collecting later. Painted the big boat 2nd coat. All on board by 6 P.M. Fine night. Dec 7 Light to moderate ESE wind, fine clear. Collectors landed at 7 A.M. Mr Beck remains on board. Got fresh water from river. Collectors returned at 4 P.M. 4/25 P.M. Hove up & proceeded through passage between Islands under engine power. Set all sail and stopped engine at 9/25 P.M. A light Eastly breeze, vessel making about 2 knots. Dec 8 Similar weather conditions continue all night and at day light found the vessel had been set to the Westward. Steering for the Shortland group all morning at 1 P.M. we arrived and anchored at a small unnamed island and sand- cay which lies West 11 miles of Malakuma Pt, Shortland Islands, in 17 fms water. Mr Beck & Richards landed at once. All on board by 6 P.M. A fine night. Dec 9 Light S'ly breeze, fine clear. Hove up & at 5/25 A.M. proceeded under engine power towards two small unnamed islands about 4 miles to the Eastward. (This group we name the Whitney Islands, see bird tables). Arrived and anchored at 9/25 A.M. in 18 fms. Mr Beck & Richards landed at once, crew attending with big boat. 1 P.M. Hove up & proceeded to an outlying island of the Shortland group, at which we arrived & anchored at 3 P.M. in 15 fms. Mr Beck & Richards landed at once & returned at 6 P.M. Vessel pumped out daily as required. Yacht "France" Dec 10 Light S'W breeze, fine clear. Collectors landed at the various islands at 6.30 A.M. All on board for dinner and away again in afternoon till sun set. A fine night. Dec 11 Light S'W breeze, fine but cloudy. 4/25 Hove up & proceeded under engine power along the coast of Shortland Island. Set all sail to help, wind only light all morning. 12/35 P.M. Arrived and anchored in Taissi harbour in 17 fms. Mr Tataram came in at 4 P.M. with the mails. A fine night. Dec 12 Light variable wind, dull and overcast, Showers during fore noon, but fine later. Both ships boats attending at port office and mail steamer all day. She sailed at 6 P.M. Dec 13 Calm and fine weather. Mr Richards & Hamlin landed for collecting at 7 A.M. Doctor skimming and painting birds. Mr Beck at 13:30 P.M. store entering cargo from Sydney. Collectors returned at 5 P.M. Dec 14 Calm, fine and clear. Doctor, Richards & Hamlin landed for collecting at 7 A.M. Mr Beck at store. Painted the vessel round outside. Collectors returned at 3/20 P.M. The Government Officer visited the ship in the afternoon. Dec 15 Calm, dull overcast sky. Bar 30.02 8 A.M. Doctor, Hamlin, Richards & Hicks landed at 7 A.M. Mr Beck away with small boat collecting. All on board by 6 P.M. Vessel pumped out daily as required.