We have spoken by telephone concerning this matter & I am sending you the file & the coffin to the Central Medical School to Dr. Hoodless.

2. H.E. will be glad if the bones may be examined & and a report submitted in due course.

P.D. Macdonald
Asst. Secy. W. P.H.C.

The entries in this file will put us in possession of the known facts of certain curios and remains which will be sent to you, probably action 1/4 [April 1], for general inspection and later report.

I have today examined a collection of bones forming part of a human skeleton. These bones were delivered to me in a closed wooden box by Mr. P. D. Macdonald of the Western Pacific High Commission.

2. The bones included:- (1) a skull with the right zygoma and malar bones broken off: (2) mandible with only four teeth in position; (3) part of the right scapula; (4) the first thoracic vertebra; 5) portion of a rib (? 2nd right rib); (6) left humerus; 7) right radius; (8) right innominate bone; (9) right femur; (10) left femur; (11) right tibia; (12) right fibula; and (13) the right scaphoid bone of the foot.

3. From this list it is seen that less than half of the total skeleton is available for examination.

4. All these bones are very weather-beaten and have been exposed to the open air for a considerable time. Except in one or two small areas all traces of muscular attachments and the various ridges and prominences have been obliterated.

5. By taking measurements of the length of the femur, tibia and the humerus I estimate that these bongs belonged to a skeleton of total height of 5 feet 51/2 inches approximately.

6. From the half sub-pubic angle of the right innominate bone, the "set" of the two femora, and the ratio of the circumferences of the long bones to their individual lengths it may be definitely stated that the skeleton is that of a MALE.

7. Owing to the weather-beaten condition of all the bones it is impossible to be dogmatic in regard to the age of the person at the time of death, but I am of the opinion that he was not less than 45 years of age and that probably he was older: say between 45 and 55 years.

8. I am not prepared to give an opinion on the race or nationality of this skeleton, except to state that it is probably not that of a pure South Sea Islander-Micronesian or Polynesian. It could be that of a short, stocky, muscular European, or even a half-caste, or person of mixed European descent.

9. If further details are necessary I am prepared to take detailed and exact measurements of the principal bones in this collection, and to work out the various indices ( e.g. the platymeric index for the femur or the cnemic index for the tibia ) but if such a detailed report is required the obvious course to adopt would be to submit these bones to the Anthropological Dept of the Sydney University where Professor Elkin would be only too pleased to make a further report.

D.W. Hoodless

Principal,
Central Medical School
Suva.

4th April, 1941.

My report on these bones is enclosed. I will take charge of these bones until it is decided what to do with them.

D.W. Hoodless

Submitted with 10 [Gallagher's letter of December 27th] and 11 [Hoodless report] and minutes 20 and 22 above [notes to file of March 31 and April 5]. The report 11 appears definitely to indicate that the skeleton cannot be that of the late Amelia Earhart, but Y. E. [Your Excellency] may wish action taken as suggested in paragraph 9 of 11 although it does not seem possible that any useful purpose will be served by proceeding farther.

2. The sextant box with its contents is now with me. Perhaps Captain Nasmyth might be willing to examine this with a view to ascertaining the origin?

Pl ask CMA [Macpherson] to convey my thanks to Dr. Hoodlesss for the trouble he has taken in this matter & and to request him to retain the remains until further notice.

2. Pl ask Captain Nasmyth orally if he can throw any light on the origin of the sextant.

3. Then to one again.

With His Excellency's minute 24 above (preceding note) (paragraph 1). Would you be so good as to take the action accordingly?

2. I should be grateful if the file could be returned for further action.

Secretary W.P.H.C.

Principal CMS

Please see para 1 of 24

D.C.M. Macpherson
for CMA

C.M.A.

Noted - thank you.

DW Hoodless

Returned to you. I have read Dr. Hoodless' report with interest and agree with his conclusions.

D.C.M. Macpherson
ACMA, Fiji

Secretary, W.P.H.C.

Gallagher.

Gallagher. [handwritten note from Vaskess] (but see 1)