ENDEAVOUR AT BLUFF

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28158, 22 December 1956, Page 10

ENDEAVOUR AT BLUFF

WELCOME BY BIG CROWD

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL. December 21.

A crowd of between 1500 and 2000 crammed the southern end of the main wharf at Bluff this afternoon to watch the arrival of the New Zealand Antarctic expedition's ship, H.M.N.Z.S. Endeavour.

It was a gay. carefree crowd, with a large percentage of children. The vessel arrived an hour after its expected berthing time. Before the Endeavour left Dunedin, her arrival time at Bluff was fixed for 4.30 p.m. Early today, it was announced that she would berth at 3.30 p.m.. and the departure time of the special train, which took 500 children and parents to Bluff, was advanced to 2.15 p.m. But it was just 4.30 p.m. when the Endeavour tied up. Ships in the port were gaily dressed with flags for the occasion. Immediately the vessel tied up. the crowd surged forward and dozens of small boys began attempting to climb aboard. Children and adults sought every vantage point to look at the ship. Telegrams for Expedition The first man aboard was the secretary ‘of the Ross Sea Committee (Mr A. S. Helm), clutching a wad of telegrams for members of the expedition. As soon a» the gangway was in position, bags of mail for the expedition and the ship’s company were taken aboard.

A terrific roar from the children heralded the arrival on the lower deck of the leader of the expedition (Sir Edmund Hillary) with one of the husky pups on a leash. Picking up the pup in his arms, he made his way with difficulty through the crowd. Finally he reached a clear space on the wharf, and allowed the pup to walk beside him. He was followed by an excited crowd of children.

Then Dr. George Marsh, chief of the “dog men,” and two other members of the expedition brought two fullgrown huskies and another pup on to the wharf for exercise, much to the delight of the children. The rest of the crowd watched fue’ being taken aboard the vessel, and gazed at the crammed fore and after decks and the Auster aircraft mounted on the stern. Guests go Aboard A number of relatives of expedition members awaited the arrival of the Endeavour, and they went aboard soon after she berthed. Members of the Bluff Harbour Board, the Bluff Borough Council, and the Invercargill City Council were also there. The Government was represented by the Minister of Health (Mr J. R. Hanan). Four members of the expedition joined the Endeavour at Bluff. They were the deputy-leader (Mr R. Miller), and Messrs Helm, Harry Ayres, and B. Gunn. The Endeavour carries 22 members of the expedition and a complement of 35. Nineteen other members of the expedition have gone ahead in American ships.