Observers' Field Reports 177 



described in connection with the work in the New Hebrides, with the obvious disadvantage 

 of attempting observations during the brief and uncertain intervals allowed ashore. The 

 captain and officers of the Mindini afforded all the assistance they were able, and with 

 their cooperation I succeeded in establishing 10 stations within a field time of scarcely 

 more than 15 days, and at an average cost of a little less than $11 per station. 



IV. Leaving Sydney on October 13 under authority of the general instructions of 

 the Director, dated December 16, 1914, and more specific instructions cabled on October 

 5, 1915, I proceeded to Port Moresby, British New Guinea, for work along the accessible 

 portions of the coast and islands of the adjacent archipelagoes. After visiting Samarai 

 and Woodlark Island aboard the Morinda, we returned to Port Moresby, calling at Yule 

 Island en route. It had been hoped that a schooner could be obtained with which to 

 make an extended trip of about 6 weeks along the coast of Papua, but after several 

 attempts to secure a suitable vessel the plan was abandoned. I then went aboard the 

 Misima, which left Port Moresby, November 5, for Thursday Island, where I was able 

 to reoccupy the station of 1911, during November 11 to 13, returning to Port Moresby 

 the following week after visiting Daru Island and Bramble Cay, a small sand island of a 

 half-acre in extent, at which the steamer made a special stop to allow brief observations. 

 Proceeding eastward with the Misima, I obtained observations at Delami Island and 

 Suau Harbor on November 20, the steamer having made special stops at both places for 

 that purpose. The following day at Samarai, I learned on inquiry that there was small 

 chance of the Rabaul steamer calling there on her way north; I therefore remained 

 aboard the Misima. After visiting Misima Island, the vessel proceeded to cruise among 

 the islands off the eastern end of Papua (New Guinea) and along the northern coast. 

 She made a special call at Panasesa Island to enable me to make observations, and put 

 in to Doini Island the following morning at about 3 o'clock for a cargo of seed coconuts. 

 During the loading of these I made an incomplete set of declination observations by 

 moonlight. 



The steamer arrived at Mambare at the boundary of British New Guinea and 

 Kaiser- Wilhelms Land on November 29, where I made inquiries as to the prospects of 

 getting along the German coast to Madang, and thence to points on New Britain in the 

 Bismarck Archipelago. The only service in operation was found to be a German steamer, 

 at that time used by the Australian forces of occupation as a patrol boat, and its move- 

 ments were extremely uncertain. I decided, on the advice of those who understood the 

 situation locally, to remain with the Misima as far as Buna Bay, where there was an 

 unengaged motor-launch that might be obtained for reaching the coast points as far as 

 Madang. The owner of the launch proved to be unwilling to rent it except at a charge 

 disproportionate to the value of the work that could be accomplished. 



I finally quitted the Misima at Samarai on December 2, after nearly a month aboard, 

 during which I had occupied 18 stations more or less completely, several of which would 

 have been impossible but for the special stops which Captain Brown very kindly made to 

 allow me the opportunity for work ashore. I remained at Samarai until December 6 

 when the Morinda called on her way to Rabaul, where I worked while the steamer visited 

 nearby ports. Unfortunately the Matunga, with which I hoped to connect for Madang 

 and points in New Britain and New Ireland, had left 2 days earlier in order to complete 

 her work and return to Sydney before Christmas. As I could learn of no other immediate 

 possibility for reaching the desired regions, I rejoined the Morinda, and returned to Port 

 Moresby, and thence to Sydney, where we arrived in the early morning of December 

 24, 1915. 



The total number of days required for this section of the work was 53, nearly 8,200 

 miles had been covered, and 23 stations occupied more or less completely at a cost per 

 station exclusive of the observer's salary of about $13.50. 



