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We shall require confirmation at sea via radio from Walter Garey, of 
Scripps, as to just who of all these four are coming, and also confirmation of 
the date of the flight, for from here in New Hebrides out, I cannot find the 
SOLAIR schedule. Finally, even though MacGregor in Honiara has signaled us that 
the places are booked for Michael and Stephen, the money for the two flights has 
to be sent to SOLAIR, and the flights should be RECONFIRMED now by radio for 
both of them... and booked for Joe and Don, if they can come. 
Jean Gulart is holding us up a day, having sent us the enclosed cablegram 
from Paris. 
Liquid nitrogen: NO SIGN OF IT AS YET. I shall start telephoning Noumea 
from here if it is not on today's flight from Noumea. I am told that at 
Tontouta Airport, Noumea, it is likely to be fully forgotten. It is the most 
critical issue of the trip at the moment. You should phone Brisbane and learn 
of the consignment number and exact number of thermos flasks of liquid nitrogen 
sent and date of dispatch and route of dispatch. Without this, I do not know 
the direction to start hunting by radio and phone from here. If it went via 
Noumea, telephone Dr. Guy Loison, Director of Medical Services, South Pacific 
Commission, Noumea and ask him for help in getting it off on the next plane IF 
it is not already off if this letter is in your hands on Monday, 
September 18th or Tuesday the 19th. If we have not got the liquid nitrogen 
before then, we are seriously delayed, and I should be telephoning you before 
that and him as well. In all cases, I need the radio signal of the consignment 
number, quantity and route of shipment from Brisbane out! This needs to be sent 
by radio ... Scripps radio cannot reach us here in port, for we are forbidden to 
use the ship's radio here in Vila, and must rely upon commercial telegrams. 
Friday, September 15th. Frangoise arrived non-stop from Paris yesterday and is 
moved into her stateroom — which she and Judy will share. We had a fine evening 
in Vila and are starting to "unpack" the stacks of mail and supplies which we 
sent. Most of it seems to have arrived well, but some is still to arrive 
today. 
Should I signal you re. liquid nitrogen, that will be the most urgent 
matter, and must be handled by phoning Brisbane, Noumea, etc. etc. However, if 
it is not here by Monday we may have to sail without it, severely curtailing our 
program! The only hope then is to send it all on to Honiara and have it brought 
down a month from now to Santa Cruz — and that probably will not work without 
sending it all back to Noumea for refilling! We shall see. 
I shall be writing at length shortly, for after Monday, unless we meet a 
ship at sea, there is no way to send off further mail. However, we will keep in 
close touch with you by radio. 
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