Antarctic Relief Begins

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30264, 17 October 1963, Page 24

Antarctic Relief Begins

(N.Z. Preu Association) SCOTT BASE, Oct 15.

The 1963-64 New Zealand Antarctic research programme began today with the arrival at McMurdo Sound of the first 12 men of the relief party for Scott Base.

Winter party members from Scott Base and the joint New Zealand - United States base ait Cape Hallett will begin to return to New Zealand late this week.

The newcomers, led by the new season’s leader, Mr R. E Rawle, of Wellington, found the base in good condition after the winter although

maintenance staff on Monday spent a trying day with electric generator trouble.

This moroing, Mr Rawle and the retiring leader.

Lieutenant-Colonel R. A. Tinker, of Christchurch, conferred with the commander of the United States Naval Support Force in Antarctica,

Rear-Admiral J. R. Reedy, on work in which the Americans will' assist. Colonel Tinker expects to hand over the base and return to New Zealand late this week with Messrs L. Wells, of Auckland, the cook, and Q. F. McLea, of Palmerston North, the radio operator.

Most anxious to arrive today were Mr J. H. Milter, of Wellington, who will lead this summer’s northern field party on a topographical and geological survey expedition in northern Victoria Land, and has two geologists, Messrs S. J. Carryer, of Christchurch,

and A. G. Sturm, a Canadian with the New Zealand expedition.

Only a few hours after their arrival ait the base they took

a traMng run with the dog teams they writ] take Mo the mauntaona. With them were Messrs M. R J. Ford, of Weihngton, surveyor, J. F. Graveson, of Dunedin, and Mr J. Sheehan, of Invercargill, field assistants.

These three have wintered over ait Scott Base to prepare for the three-month expedition which should begin in the coming week. In the next week another 20, mdudiing the three-man relief party for Hallett Station, the Scott Base summer support party, and scientisrts, will arrive on the ice.

By late November most of the summer field workers in glaciology, geochemistry, biology and geology will have arrived and begun their ex-

tensive research programmes, These include parties from the Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Canterbury Antarctic bdologioal unit