RECEPTIONS ARRANGED

Evening Star, Issue 20034, 27 November 1928, Page 5

RECEPTIONS ARRANGED

A reception to Commander Byrd will lie tendered by the Otago Harbour Board at the board's offices to-morrow afternoon. A civic welcome will bo given to Commander Byrd and his ship’s company at the Town Hall at 8 o’clock on Thursday night to enable, the public of Dunedin to bid the party good-by© on what will probably be the eve of their departure for Antarctica. The party will afterwards be entertained by the City Council at supper at the Tudor Hall. The endeavour to meet the convenience of the members of the expedition and not to interfere with the work of getting the vessels ready has caused the delay on the part of the civic authorities in giving the official welcome. The Overseas Club is giving a farewell to Commander Byrd and the ship’s company of the City of-Now York and Eleanor Boling in tho club’s rooms (Castle street) on Friday evening. The function will take the form of a social and dance. An interesting musical programme has been arranged. . This a&stttld prove a most interesting func-

tion, and will probably he the last f unction tho members of the expedition will have tho opportunity of attending before their departure on their, great adventure.

Enthusiastic praise is given by Mr Arthur Waldron, of tho Byrd Expedition, to the locally-manufactured hand sleighs built to Ids order, after the Yukon design, but with several alterations, by Anderson’s Motor Body Works. Tho sleighs are to bo carried in two largo aeroplanes, and lightness in weight, combined with unquestionable strength, was essential to their construction. These stipulations have been well complied with, and tho result is a sleigh of selected light ash and maple, shod with aluminium, wooden pinned, and lashed and bound with grcenhiclo. Seven feet in length and 18in wide, the total weight is less than 221 b.

In the days of sailing ships the sailmakers had busy times. Since tho change into steam tho canvas workers have directed their attention mainly to shore work, but the visit of tho Antarctic expedition has called for some of tho old-time marine activity. Messrs Alex. .Thompson and Son, Ltd., have prepared articles for members of tho expedition, and these will bo exhibited in their show windows. They have been called upon to make a flag of the State of Virginia, by Commander Byrd, who hopes to carry it over tho South Bole, and then ho will hand it over to tho Virginia Museum.