Written in Melbourne Spring 1902, f. 188.:
The next break-up was in the house [the apprentices' company] Jim's time was up before we got in. He decided to stay out here for a few months..(the old man told him it would simply mean his "finale" if he should attempt to round the Horn in a sailing ship in the condition he was in, in other words let him know he was not wanted in the ship unless he was fit)... Mr Keep* told him he could give him a letter of introduction to a friend of his in Mildula who would do what he could for him... Fruit picking would probably be the job he would land on as the fruit (grapes) would soon be ripe... Joe finished his time two days after me. We were both paid off at the shipping office the same day Sat 11th. Joe shipped for the run round to Newcastle in the Albyn ¬£4 and 10s. extra if he joined in the morning and bent sail... he came on board that night and I called him early. He took what he had left in a parcel and said goodbye to us and went. His chest and box had gone previously. Exit of Joe from the Armadale. I felt quite lumpified about the throat when I said goodbye to him.

*Mr Keep was a contact made through the Armadale's owners who befriended the apprentices. In New York they had made most contact ashore through the pastor at the Seaman's Church.

Written in Melbourne, Spring 1902, ff. 122-23:
[the old man] gave me quite a fatherly talking to... offered me a 3rd mate job if I would come home in the ship... He told me to think it over and let him know. Well I did and all things considered I thought I might as well do so... Then came the wages question. They were not discussed until about Feb. when I went to sign on. The old man broached the subject going up to the shipping office. He pointed out that the wages from home were ¬£3 and from Melbourne were ¬£5 a month. Well he proposed taking the medium ¬£4. To tell the truth I would have kicked against that at once... [but] I agreed, then the old man told me it was not for the sake of the extra ¬£1 that he proposed the ¬£4 but because one had to look ahead and I would stand better with the owners, as he said one never knew what was before us.

Written in Melbourne, Spring 1902, f. 125 [in reference to 7 March, leaving Melbourne]:
We flew the pilot flag during the late afternoon... At 10.30 p.m. we were told to "heave short". We passed the tow line out, right out to the bare end, a thing I never saw done before and nearly lost the end to the Albatross. We got under way and stood down the bay watched the lights fade away and then began to wish for a good, fair wind.

MacKay's Voyage