BYRD EXPEDITION

Evening Star, Issue 21519, 18 September 1933, Page 7

BYRD EXPEDITION

LEAVING BOSTON NEXT MONDAY DUNEDIN AS PORT OF DEPARTURE The Byrd Antarctic Expedition 11. is to start for .New Zealand waters next Monday, when the two vessels,; Bear of Oakland and the Pacific Fir, are to sail from Boston for Dunedin. The Pacific Fir has a carrying capacity of some 8,000 tons, and was loaned to the expedition. This vessel is to be used as a floating supply base, and if conditions are unsuitable for her to go to the Barrier she will stay north of the ice pack, and the Bear of Oakland,a wooden vessel, will be used to carry, supplies from the floating base to _ the Barrier to ensure that all necessities are landed at their destination. During the last expedition, owing to adverse weather conditions, the Elinor Boling was unable to reach the rendezvous on her second trip from Dunedin, and consequently operations were somewhat hampered < through the lack of supplies and equipment. The programme outlined to the local agents (Messrs H. L. Tapley and Co.) for the coming expedition should overcome all these difficulties. The Pacific Fir is to bring about 100 dogs for use on the. ice, and these will probably remain on board the vessel during her stay at Dunedin of about ten days. Support in the form of gifts _ has again been received by the expedition,and a large quantity of refrigerated stores arrived at Wellington by the Port Fremantle a short time ago. Unfortunately the vessel terminated her voyage at Wellington, and consequently these stores had to be landed there. It is probable that one of the expedition ships will call there prior to coming to Dunedin, and pick up this cargo, as there are no voflnll trading on the New Zealand Mtn #tth refrigerated cargo space. Some seventy men will comprise the personnel of the expedition, and in addition a large number of New Zealanders have volunteered to go south. Many of these latter wish to remain with the ice party, and some have special qualifications which will probably entitle them to be chosen by Rearadmiral Byrd for this purpose. Dunedin is fortunate in being chosen as the port of departure for two expeditions during the coming season, as it is found that there are large quantities of local supplies required. A big sum of money was spent in this city during the last Byrd expedition visit, and no doubt the monetary gain will again be substantial. Messrs H. C. Campbell Ltd. have already volunteered their sendees as Customs agents for the present expedition, and the New Zealand _ Wax Vesta Company has made a gift of wax matches, which apparently are not used in America. The same type of match was found to be admirably suited to conditions on the wind-swept Barrier during the last expedition. Tho visits of the expedition to this port should make Dunedin widely and favourably known throughout the American Continent. Several members of the personnel of the • previous expedition will be in the coming party, and many friends in Dunedin will pleasantly anticipate their arrival.