DOCTOR FOR BYRD EXPEDITION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21086, 10 February 1934, Page 13

DOCTOR FOR BYRD EXPEDITION

DUNEDIN APPLICANT j MAY GO j POSSIBLE USE OF SIIIL' DISCOVERY 11. ] ITIIE PRESS Special Ssrvicc] I DUNEDIN. February 9. | Three doctors in the South Island I and one in Sydney have offered to | go to Little America to winter there ! with the Byrd Antarctic Expedition in place of Dr. Shirey, who is returning from the Antarctic owing to serious illness. Messrs H. L. Tapley and Company, agents for the expedition, reported at midday that a Dunedin doctor who had volunteered to make the trip will probably be chosen, but the selection j will depend upon Admiral Byrd'sj approval. ! The selected doctor will probably \ leave here next week in the exploration ship Discovery 11., which' is at present in Auckland. Efforts are being made to secure this ship to transport the doctor to the ice. Advice was received this morning from the Ranfurly doctor who was considering the matter that he would be available, but as his fee was in excess of the amount Admiral Byrd would be prepared to pay, his application was turned clown. A Sydney doctor sent a cable message last night asking for full particulars of the requirements if the post were still available. This application is not being considered, as the applicant is too far away from New Zealand. Offers from Nelson and Christchurch to fill the position have also been received.

USE OF RESEARCH SHIP (rRE33 AaSOCIAJ*JO.V TELEGBAIi.) AUCKLAND, February 9. After communications between the Byrd expedition and Washington, and between Washington and London, it is announced that the Royal Research ship Discovery 11. will take a relief doctor from New Zealand to replace Dr. Shirey, who is ill at the ice barrier. Three New Zealand doctors have so far offered their services, and the one who is finally appointed will arrive in Auckland on Sunday morning, in time to leave by the Discovery 11.. which will sail at nine o'clock in the morning. It is assumed that the .Jacob Ruppert will convey Dr. Shirey until she is met by the Discovery 11., and the transferring of doctors is expected to take place in about latitude 50 degrees. The Discovery 11. will (hen return to Port Chalmers, and land Dr. Shirey. After refuelling she will proceed according, to her programme, to the ice edge, calling en route at the Antipodes Islands, in the hope of finding some sign of the yacht Windward, which was reported missing in January, 1931.