Thurs day - Feb. 19, 1948 Dist. 377 Day 24 Hr.30 Speed 15.40 Kn. 1053 From Auckland; 224 To Sydney. Course 272.35 ON BOARD 5/5 MARINE PHOENIX Lat. 34°.09 S Long. 165.43 E N.W. BREEZE KICKING UP CHOPPY SEA TODAY - OVERCAST. NO ALBATROSSES FOLLOWING SHIP AT 9; A.M. MEDIUM SIZED ALL DARK SHEARWATERS GOING BY OCCASIONALLY. THE LAND OF NATURALISTS' DREAMS IS ALMOST IN SIGHT. A GLORIOUS MOONLIGHT SHINING ON THE OCEAN. THE SHIP IS LOAFING ALONG - WE ARE WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. WILL MAINTAIN A POSITION OFF SYDNEY HEAD - PICK UP PILOT AT 5; - TO QUARANTINE AT 6;. THE WARM TROPICAL BREEZE BLEW ITSELF OUT SOON AFTER NOON, SUN CAME OUT, SEA MODERATED + NOW THE SHIP IS AS STEADY AS A ROCK. IT HAS BEEN A VERY QUIET TRIP. THE SHIP IS FILLED WITH A SUB- DUE D AIR OF EXCITEMENT TONIGHT: BRIDES & GROOMS TO BE ARE ON BOARD; EX-G.I.'S GOING TO NEW HOMES; FAMILIES EMIGRA- TING TO NEW LAND; AUST. RETURNING AFTER MONTHS OR YEARS ABROAD ON BUSINESS + PLEASURE; TOURISTS ON A VISIT; A VAUDE- VILLE TROUPE BOUND FOR THE TIVOLI; AN EXPEDITION FOR THE PE- NINSULA; AND MISSIONARIES FOR FAR WIDE - WHAT A MISCELLANY THERE IS ON BOARD - WHAT DIFFERENT HOPES & OBJECTIVES! PACKED UP MY FRUIT PIGEON TODAY - SKIN, SYRINX + SKELETON IN A CIGAR BOX. H. GOEBEL WILL TAKE ON RETURN TRIP + MAIL IN SAN FRANCISCO (ALSO 2 ROLLS FILM). H. HAS BEEN A GRAND FRIEND TO ME, AND THE TRIP HAS BEEN FAR MORE INTERESTING BECAUSE OF HIM + THE CAPTAIN - WHO HAS GIVEN ME THE RUN OF THE SHIP. MR. SPEIGHT REPORTS SEEING 2 OR 3 WILSON'S PETRELS TODAY. 2 RED-TAILED TROPIC BIRDS SHOWED UP AT 3:30 P.M. - I BELIEVE THEY WERE RESTING ON THE WATER. MAIS. ALSO SAW 2 WHALES AT MID-AFTERNOON. NO ALBATROSSES ALL DAY. [TIME OUT - I HAVE JUST WRITTEN CAPT. JOHANSON A THANK YOU LETTER. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ITS BEING DONE BEFORE BUT IF THERE WAS EVER A CAPT. THAT DESERVED ONE, THEN OUR CAPT. IS IT. THIS IS ONLY A "TIN CAN" - A THIRD-RATE TROOP SHIP, BUT IT IS A WELL RUN "HAPPY" SHIP (IN SPITE OF ALL THE GROANSING BY THE PASSENGERS).] WASHED A FEW CLOTHES OUT TODAY; PACKED, LOADED MY CAMERA, GOT OUT MY VARIOUS LANDING PAPERS. WE WERE WARNED TODAY THAT THE CUSTOMS SHED WILL BE VERY INADEQUATE.