N .Z. Construction Party Going South On Arneb

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29070, 5 December 1959, Page 14

N .Z. Construction Party Going South On Arneb

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Dec. 4. Seven' New Zealand soldiers and three civilians leave for the Antarctic tomorrow on the U.S.S, Arneb to undertake a big construction project at Scott Base. Executing the Government decision to maintain Scott Base as a permanent scientific establishment, the construction party of carpenters, electricians, a cablelayer and a plumber-fitter will build three new facilities this summer. The party will build a combined generator shed housing two 45-kilowatt generators, a base workshop for servicing snocats, tractors and weasels, and a 60ft by 60ft hangar to house the Beaver and Auster aircraft of the R.N.Z.A.F. Antarctic flight, so

that aircraft can be “wintered, over” and the best made of the flying season. At arrival heights, 500 feet above the American base and two miles from the naval air facility at Hut Point, an unmanned radar station will be built. This radar station will measure the Aurora Australis from within its circle around the South Polar land mass, supplementing material gained from the Invercargill station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, which measures the aurora from the “outside.” Mr R. Heke, of the Ministry of Works, will be the overseer. Mr F. Tod, of Dunedin, serving on secondment from the New Zealand Railways, will supervise the laying of power cables from the American base to the new radar station. Mr P. Brown, of Wellington, an electrician of th* Post Office, will assist in electrical work and in the cable laying. The Army construction party is headed by Sergeant P. Crowthe. an electrician, of the Northern Military District. Sapper N. E. Bristow, of Central Military District, will be plumber-fitter. The rest of the Army party consists of carpenters. Corporal L. A. Frith (C.M.D.), Lance-Corporal B. Selby (C.M.D.), Sapper T. G. W. King (N.M.D.), Sapper W. G. W. Williams (N.M.D.), and Sapper E. R. Baillie (N.M.D.). Most of the building materials for the project will be shipped south on the Arneb, and the Americans will help to prepare the site at Scott Base.