BYRD EXPEDITION

Evening Star, Issue 23124, 25 November 1938, Page 8

BYRD EXPEDITION

MEMORIES OF ANTARCTIC RECALLED PRESENTATION TO PUBLIC LIBRARY A photograph album containing pictures (with explanations) and poems by Anson Walker Perkins, member of the First Byrd Antarctic Expedition, was presented to-day to the Dunedin Public Library. The album of this expedition was presented on behalf of Mr Perkins by Mr It. 0. T. Evans, city valuer of Dunedin and friend of Mr Perkins, to honour the memory of their mutual good friend and founder of the first municipal library of New Zealand (in Dunedin), Mr W. B. M'Ewan, who, at his death, was librarian of the library. While the first Antarctic Expedition was in New Zealand Messrs M'Ewan, Evans, and Perkins became close friends, the friendship continuing between Mr Evans and Mr Perkins, following the death of Mr M'Ewan several years ago. In presenting this piece of unusual literature to-day, Mr Evans remarked that this was the tenth anniversary of the landing of the expedition in the auxiliary barque. City of New York, at Port Chalmers, New Zealand. An excerpt from the diary of Mr Perkins entered in this log of that day follows: “ A pilot hoards us just outside the Heads (near Port Chalmers). Green land, people, ships look fine to all hands. We anchor in the harbour before moving into dry-dock. Many townspeople down to see us. Go ashore later with Sergeant Victor Czgeka, of the Marine Corps, and hike to Dunedin. The leg-stretching is good. Enjoy flowers, well-trimmed hedges, and rolling countryside. People on highway friendly. We meet many pedestrians, people on bicycles and motor cycles. After hiking two and a-half miles back toward Port Chalmers a kind motorist gives us a lift the rest of the way.” Mr Perkins represents one or the largest and oldest life insurance companies of the United States in his homo city, Kenosha, Wisconsin, located 55 miles north, of Chicago/ on the western shore of Lake Michigan, one of the five inland seas on the borders of Canada and the United States. Mr Perkins still maintains his correspondence with friends he made in New Zealand_ while a member of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition of 1928-1929-1930. He is called on frequently to give lectures on tho expedition.' Ho has seen Admiral Byrd on many occasions since their return to the United States in June, 1930, and Admiral Byrd has twice visited the Perkins home. A group of the members of former Byrd expeditions living in and near Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., feted the Admiral on his fiftieth birthday in Boston on October 25 last, presenting him a gift. His latest book, ‘ Alone, dealing with his lonely vigil at Advance Base, below “ Little America,” on the second Antarctic Expedition, was recently put on sale throughout tfye United States. Mr Perkins wrote to Mr Evans that he was most desirous of again visiting his friends in beautiful New Zealand.