ABOARD H.M.N.Z.S. ENDEAVOUR

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28160, 26 December 1956, Page 6

ABOARD H.M.N.Z.S. ENDEAVOUR

Quiet Christmas Day SHIP NEARING PACK ICE (From an Official Correspondent aboari H.M.N.Z.S. Endeavour) AT SEA, Dec. 25. Christmas came quietly to the Endeavour, now almost half-way on her journey to McMurdo Sound. By mutual consent Christmas dinner and all its festivities have been delayed a day or two until the ship reaches the more stable waters of the pack ice. Even so, the ship has been experiencing extraordinarily good weather for this ocean. There have been blue skies, but a strong haze has filtered the warmth of the sun. This morning Captain H. Kirkwood conducted a brief and simple Christmas church service on the ship’s forecastle. If anyone needed any reminder of the task ahead it was there in the accompanying howls of the huskies caged nearby, and in the touch of ice in the wind. Sir Edmund Hillary read the lesson, Si message of Christmas. Last night the Endeavour wall serenaded with Christmas carols from I the frigate Pukaki. It was obvious for some time before that some surprise was afoot. The Pukaki gradually edged from her escorting station, ana at the same time went off the air to the Endeavour, using a frequency which could be received only by the Hawea. the other escorting frigate. The Pukaki took up a position close in on the Endeavour’s flank, ana amplified by the hailer the ca ™ ls came clearly across the sea. The caroilers were grouped on a wins of the bridge, well muffled against the chill wind and with song booKS in their hands. To the expedition members it was a strange and moving touch of Christmas. Early today the Pukaki again came alongside, this time, to transfer manThere was a “gift” for every expedition member —an empty champagne bottle for Jack Hoffman, the expedition’s explosives expert, a dooklet on the New Zealand Navy as * career for Richard Brooke a liew tenant-commander in the Royal Navy, and so on. - Wardrooms and messes in the r,n* deavour are gay with stream®** balloons, and cardboard motifs. Abov the crow’s nest a Christmas tree ns sprouted. , .jWhen the Pukaki came alongsio Sir Edmund Hillary climbed the ma to take movie photographs. He n better be careful.” said a rating. “I hope he has a head heights.” , , . uartffi The ship is likely to sight icebew any hour now. although still some and a half days’ sailing from pack ice.