rates on his regular run. Weekly service Cairns, Cooktown, Annie River and return, with approximately monthly calls at Bloomfield River to pick up sawn lumber. The Lochiel is 52 ft. long and draws 3½ ft. forward and 5½ ft aft. A trawler type vessel of which six were built for the British Government for secret landings during the war. A cockroachy tub carrying crew of 2 Singhalase and 1 Australian abo. Could be useful to us for short moves along the coast. Wed. Jan. 28: At B.P.'s, Dupain very cordial, offered every help and called in various heads of departments for consultation on requirements. No trouble anticipated in getting us all the [illegible] stores we want except rice, which can only be supplies on license for feeding native labor. We can get the billy cans, bedourie ovens, and other special Australian items of field equipment we need. Will go into details with heads of departments tomorrow. At Bank of New South Wales, talked with Mr. Smith (Acting Manager, relieving from Atherton), Mr. Turner (accountant), and Mr. Robertson (head teller). Our first draft of $2500 has arrived from New York. Went through the routine of opening an account. Called on S. E. Stephens, Borticulturist and senior man in the local office of the Dept. of Agriculture, also President, North Queensland Field Naturalists Club. He is the officer who will issue our export permits. Have corresponded with him for some time re Cape York. Wants me to lecture to the Clube. Also called on Mr. Wyer, longtime Secretary of the Cairns Harbour Board, and secretary of the Naturalists Club. Have known him for years. Have a reservation on plane for Thursday Island for February 5th. Dr. Flecker, founder of the Naturalists Club, called for me about four thirty and we went out to Edge Hill, about 3 miles from the city, to see the herbarium. The Club has housed its collections in a building at the city nurseries; is now moving them into other temporary quarters in town, pending the construction of a museum. Museum will be built with outside help as a war memorial. Flecker says the Naturalists Club herbarium contains about 4500 species and about 10,000 sheets. Specimens all mounted on sheets of standard size and poisoned by dipping in a saturated solution of boric acid (in alcohol). This poisoning method seemingly very effective. Bulk of collection from coastal parts of north Queensland; some from southern parts of Australia, gained by exchange. Determinations of phanerogams mostly by White and Blake; lower groups by staff of Melbourne Her[barium] (mosses, Fungi, algae). White has said that Flecker has named many of the specimens himself by matching new collections with material determined in Brisbane. Names should therefore be accepted with caution. The notation "determinavit White (or Blake)" does not necessarily mean that these botanists have seen the specimen; it might be one "matched" by Flecker. Flecker has collected the great bulk of the material in the herbarium. Some of it from difficult localities such as summit of Bellenden Ker and of Thornton Peak. Flecker regarded as the chief menace in North Queensland for visiting botanists. Poor collector with no sense of direction and an inflated ego. Wants to come with us. Is getting old and forgetful. Wears half-m[oon] glasses