136'47 The 1st. Monrty on a boat had very good rain & in consequence the savanna hills, which are dry & brown through most of the year, are brightly green. Have never seen the dry area so bright & lush. This work is in progress on a third very long pipeline, at the air port. 80 engineers & foremen are working completion. Arriving at th. Bafure Hotel, 17-12-6 a day measur. Tariff for a single room. Have an air breaking by Canta for Tae on Tuesday. Talked with a Californian oil driller, who arrived 18 day in work for the Mombasa River. He is in the employ of an American contracting company which deals with A.P.C. (Australian & New Zealand Petroleum Company). Says American drillers put down a hole in 6 months that Australians or English would take 12 months to complete. He is on a bit from Cape Town. Has also drilled in Australia. Sat. Jan. 5: Very hot, no rain. My quarters were rather troublesome in the hotel. During storm last night. After a couple of some years. The heavy black squalls called GUBU are said to be a feature of this wet season. Saturday is a full holiday for Government officers in Port Moresby (and Tae) so could not get any business done today. Bought for 15-2-6 (ca $11) a pair of shoes which would have cost $20 in New York, or more. Called on Mr. E. (Albert) Davis, manager Bank of New South Wales, who took me to the Papuan Club. Saw them Francis & Berne Ryan J. B.P.S. (Fried). J. Thompson's Trading Co., Allan De Groen, F.M. Jones, etc. All spoke of the earlier expeditions, especially of the Tuba & her crew. An A.P.C. man said his company is spending $12 million on oil prospecting this financial year. There will be a State Animal Ecologist (from a biologists) who has been in the west lately. Says