The Feilding Star Oroua and Kiwitea Counties’ Gazette FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1928. ANOTHER AUSSIE ADVENTURE

Feilding Star, Volume 6, Issue 1889, 27 April 1928, Page 4

The Feilding Star Oroua and Kiwitea Counties’ Gazette FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1928. ANOTHER AUSSIE ADVENTURE

There is a famous painting extant, made popular and familiar by its reproduction as an etching. of the pioneer of Arctic explorers, Sir John Franklin, with a map of the Arctic region. The title of that picture is -The North-West Passage." 'The veteran mariner was pondering over ih<* problem whether tlieru whs a way by sea from one hemisphere to the oilier. During the littsf week the great, discovery litis hemi mtide, hut

it; came via the air and it was that

intrepid and persistent explorer. Captain Wilkins, who. by Hying over tin! Arctic Ocean, crossed from the New World into the Old World, and tints came via the North-West Passage. No wonder the fishermen in Oreenland tenters were amazed to see those adventurers of file Arctic, as though they had come from another world, like Messengers from Mars. In singing the praises of the wonderful -Wilkins the world is paying yet .‘mother tribute to the genius and daring of Australians, for Caplain Wilkins is on the Aussie scroll of fame in pioneering with Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith. Sir Alan Cobham and Pert Hinkler, Australians all. Captain Wilkins, who was horn in South Australia. 40 years ago, has had a remarkable career and wears many initials to his mime with relation to scientific societies. He came out of the (Treat War with a Military Cross with a bar, and before that lie won prominence in 1012-12, when lie acted as photographic correspondent with the Turkish troops in the Balkan War. lie was second in com-

main! of Nfepansson's party in the Canadian Andie Expedition of 101317. In May of the hitler year ho

was given a commission in (he Australian Plying Force, and was seconded to the .Military ’History Department as otiicinl photographer from 11)17 to the close of tin* war. He

was twice mentioned in despatches. In 1010 he was navigator of the Blacklairn-Kangaroo aeroplane flight from England to Australia, and in 1020-21 he acted' as second in command of the British Imperial Antarctic expedition. In the following year he was naturnlis! with the final and

fatal .Shackle! on-Rowel t expedition

in the Quest. Hi* was also lender of the Wilkins Expedition to Australia and islands on behalf of Die Natural History department, of the British .Museum. Jlis latest, achievc-

nient was only won after mnnv dis

appoinlmenls that would have crushed the enthusiasm out. of the average explorer and adventurer. Xot saiistiod with having gone over the top jf Du 1 world in liis airship, the great Australian will now carry on his secondary plan—to fly over the bottom 01. the world, if we might; apply such :l term to the opposite Pole, flint's in the heart of Antarctica. Captain Wilkins is devoted to the science of the weather, as becomes a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society, and his voyage to the South Pole is eminently practical—to establish stations for scientific study, with a view to forecasting weather, an achievement which for practical everyday value would far transcend ail that, has been done by the pioneers in aviation.