Tuesday, February 24 Strike still on and the Time still in Brisbane. John Burke's Cairns agents, Samuel Allen & Co. inform me that the "Wandana" of the Thursday Id. run, which arrived here southward bound yesterday, has only enough coal to take her to Townsville, where she will be laid up until the end of the strike. The Alagna, now going south, has enough coal to take her to Gladstone, and if she can go on to Brisbane will replace the Wandana for the March voyage. At any rate we will not be able to get a John Burke steamer for T.I. until later in March than the 11th, when we were supposed to leave. The delay in John Burke service is fortunate for us in a way, for there is little hope now of the Time arriving in Cairns before the 11th. Dinner with the Bates at Edgehill. The Time left Brisbane today. Wednesday, February 25 Revising stores orders, etc. Geoff and Van arrived from Brisbane by plane about 10.30 PM with seven pieces of baggage. Geoff had a carton of Chesterfields for me and 1½ pounds of tobacco. There is a tobacco famine in Cairns, owing to the strike. Had only a dozen cigarettes left, and nearly made myself sick on cigars today. Thursday, February 26 Introduced the new arrivals around town. Looked over B.P.'s grocery stocks and placed our orders for 5 weeks' supplies for our camps on the Tip. Fresh produce such as potatoes and onions will not be available until the strike is over. We can get most other items we need, although some brands look inferior to pre-war quality, canned beef especially so. Gave a talk on Nyasaland at a special meeting of the Field Naturalist's Club this evening. George arrived on the 10.30 plane from Townsville with seven pieces of baggage. From now on he will be attached to our party. The "Time", with our cargo on board, left Brisbane last night, carrying relief supplies of food for Mackay. Expected to arrive here on March 9th. Friday, February 27 On correspondence. Called on Mr. Lightbody, i/c Civil Aviation at Cairns and in charge of all airdromes north of here. He will have the Iron Range groundsman inspect the water pipe line leading to the old RAAF camp, and if the line will carry water he will have the groundsman pump for us while we are camped there. Spoke to Gallop on this matter of a water supply. If the pipe line is useless he will have his Main Roads party carry water to us by truck - 200 gals. per day. Mighty nice of both men to offer this help.