THE ANTARCTIC.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19400, 28 August 1928, Page 8

THE ANTARCTIC.

BYRD'S EXPEDITION. I DUNEDIN AS NEW ZEALAND " BASE. [THE PBESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, August 27A cable message from New York, published to-day, said that the barque, City of New York, the flagship of Commander Byrd's Antarctic expedition, carrying 32 men and a carge of sup- , plies and stores, left that port on Saturday for Dunedin. I During his recent visit to New York Mr H. L. Tapley, member for Dunedin North, met Commander Byrd and discussed with him the plans of his expedition, more particularly those connected with his main base of supplies in the Sonthern Hemisphere. Mr Tapley said he finally persuaded Commander Byrd that New Zealand, and Dunedin in particular, offered special advantages as a "hopping off" place for the Antarctic. The Otago Harbour Board had offered Commander Byrd all the facilities of the port, including wharfage, storage, and docking free of charge. In addition Mr Tapley offered, : on behalf of his own firm, to act as the New Zealand agents of the expedition and to carry out any work in that connexion free of any charge in order fo further the objects of Commander Byrd. Mr Tapley said hehad been greatly impressed by the personality of the leader of the expedition. The main supply ship was the auxiliary barque, City of New York, formerly the Samoan, which was due to arrive at Dunedin about the end of September or early in October. Another ship, the Chelsea, would leave New York for Dunedin next month. Commander Byrd was coming to New Zealand by a passenger steamer, and would take charge of the expedition, on his arrival at Dunedin about the end of October. In all probability the big and powerful . aeroplanes' to be used on the Antarctic j flights would be snipped 011 board the Norwegian whaling ship, C. A. Larsen, which was due in New Zealand, preparatory to going to the Antarctic, some time in October. If it could be arranged the C. A. Larsen, which was more suitable for the purpose than Byrd's own shins, would take the aeroplanes south from New Zealand.