HUSKIES FOR THE ALPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 138, 13 June 1929, Page 11

HUSKIES FOR THE ALPS.

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW MALTE

BRUN HUT.

MATERIALS TO BE SLEDGED

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday.

It is now practically certain-that the; huskies of the Byrd Antarctic expedition will draw by sledge the materials for the .construction' of the new Malte Brun hut.

Mr. A. limes Taylor, the expedition's clog team driver, is now at the Hermitage preparing for the arrival of the dogs, which is expected before July 8. Preparations have been made for the •use of a tractor and trailer for transporting the timber and iron to the end of the Ball Hut Road, and then for the moraine to be crossed by the dogs at its lowest point. The Malte Brim hut will be erected close to the site of the present structure, 700 ft above the icefield, and the materials will be hoisted this distance with a hand derrick.

Mi*. Juries Taylor said that when he had finished his work in connection with tlra Malte Brim hut ho would carry the year's supplies to all the huts except the Haast. All the sledge gear and harness is at the Hermitage, and in the garage there are stored a great number of bags of pemmican, a food, relished by the dogs. It is made in Dunedin, the ingredients being meat, meal, tallow, cod liver, oil. wheat, germ, whole wheat, molasses and lemon.' Three pounds of pemmican has as much nutriment as 101b of meat.

The new hut will have 28 bunks, compared with eight in the present building. It will be exactly like the Ball hut, of timber covered ' with corrugated _ iron. Owing to transport and other considerations the cost to the Government of the Malte Brun hut will be £1550.