Many New Zealanders For Antarctic This Summer

Press, Volume C, Issue 29634, 3 October 1961, Page 16

Many New Zealanders For Antarctic This Summer

Two New Zealanders who left Harewood in a United States Navy Super Constellation this morning to fly to McMurdo Sound were toe advance guard of a large team of New Zealanders to go there at intervals throughout October and November.

They will be followed by 49 scientists, explorers, and civil servant*—some of whom will be staying for the whole season, and some of whom will b« visiting the Antarctic briefly on special assignments.

During toe same period the 13 men who spent last winter at Scott Base and the three who were at Cape Hallett will be returning to New Zealand, beginning with a party of three on October 15. The two who left this morning are Mr D. W. Me. Kay, acting administration officer of the Antarctic Division of the D.SJ.R., Wellington, and Mr A, Halltun, a senior architect from toe Ministry of Works, Wellington.

Mr McKay will assess the situation at Scott Base, particularly regarding. supplies, facilities and accommodation. Mr Hallum is to inspect toe buildings at Scott Base before this season's renovations are begun. Among toe nine New Zealanders who wIH leave for toe Antarctic o« October 8 will be Mr A. R. Roberts, the station leader at Scott Base, and Mr R. C. Jeffery*, the deputy-leader.

Mr C. B. Taylor, station scientific leader at Hallett Station this year, will leave on October 13, and five men who will be part of two s.eld parties will leave on October 16.

Dr. B. Stonehouse, of toe University of Canterbury’s zoology department, will leave on October 16 to organise a party to study penguin and seal life round Ross islandMr F. R, Swanaton, an electrical engineer from the

Ministry of Works, will leave on October 20 to inspect toe Scott Base power plant, and two men from Victoria University—Professor R. H. Clark and Mr R. H. Wheeler —will leave on November 5 to recconoitre toe dry valley area of toe Victoria Range. Dr. H. Wellman, a geologist from Victoria University, will leave on November 15 with Mr D. Doyle from the head office of the D.S.I.R. in Wellington and two men from toe Post Office.

The first of the winteringover party will return on October 15. Others will follow by air and some will stay to return by sea in the autumn.

The Globemaster was commanded by Lieutenant-

Colonel F. B. Frost, commander of the 9th Troop Carrier Squadron, who intends to inspect toe 6250 ft ice runway before toe other Globemasters begin toe season’s operations. The aircraft carried 19 crew members and 19 passengers. It also carried 14,210 lbs of Air Force maintenance equipment. W toe weather remains favourable, another Globemaster will fly south 12 hours after toe aircraft which left this morning arrives at McMurdo Sound. Also on the Super Constellation were Captain L. N. Saunders, the United States Navy's public works officer, and Commander R. K. Thurman, toe staff operations officer, A sixth Globemaster arrived at Harewood from toe United States yesterday morning, and it will be followed today, Thursday, and Friday by toe three others. By that time, 404 United States Air Force men will have arrived at Christchurch, as well as toe Navy men. The Globemasters will make about 76 round trips to toe Antarctic this season, carrying 670 tons of supplies and equipment to support the American scientific programme.