Sydney
August 16, 1957
Dear Newton:
Hi. Just some business items:
1) Has the order on the B&L Spectronic gone through on my -232 Rockefeller account? (Don't use the new one which starts Sept. 1!). If not, it should be processed through Genetics (Ag.) over Irwin's signature on the requisition. As long as its ordered before Aug 31, it will remain in the -232 account.
2) Any news on Atwood appointment? I imagine there will be some mail waiting at Canberra.
3) Could you check with Mr. Hawley on the building plans? I gave in some final sketches the day before leaving but had no chance to check the architects drawings on them.
I trust all is well.
Esther and I have had a smooth, uncomplicated trip so far, our worst luck having been the rainy weather here at Sydney, which has impeded some of our tourism; however, we've had no trouble getting to see the scientists we were interested in.
Our trip across the Pacific was a delightful experience and we are particularly grateful for the Fosses' generosity in coming out to the airport at 6:20 AM for a lei-aloha! It is a tribute to the friendliness of the Hawaiians that this sort of tradition has escaped the phony carnivalism that might have attached to it. We were also fortunate in meeting Walter Carter, with whom I'd had some correspondence on endosymbiosis, who drove us around the island and showed us the pineapples and the Nuunu Pali and the other sites. It is hard to see how anyone gets any work down in such a vacation locale! (by which token Wisconsin is an ideal place to work.) We were equally fortunate at Fiji, and could easily have enjoyed a longer time there.
We hope all is well, and best wishes.