ON THE LOOK-OUT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 June 1925, Page 9

ON THE LOOK-OUT.

EXTRA EDITION.

NO SIGN OF AMUNDSEN

THE HOBBY ON PATROL

by cable—press association— copyright, , Rrece.iv-ed Juno IS, 2,10 p.m. LONDON, June 17.

A wireless from Danes Island on the 16th stated that when the Hobby, on the 9th inst., returned there after her first, eastward patrol, the Farm had departed for the south to fetch a relief v expedition, consisting ol two aeroplanes. Thus the journalists have been cut off from the wireless station since, and have been living in a trapper’s hut at \V:elLman’;s Kay, eating polar hear meat. Following instructions, the Hobby immediately proceeded northwards again on a patrolling expedition. She ciretnrned to-night. The results of her search show that the polar icte now lies unusually far north, with open water to 80.40 deg.. about 40 inijps from: the north coiast. of Spitsbergen. Ice approaches the land near NortheastLatnd, but outside the pack ice lies a wide belt cf drift ice which the airmen cannot possibly pass in their small canvas boats. If, therefore, they are seeking Spitsbergen, they are probably bound for No r the as tl a n cl. Despite the moist intently maintained watch from the Hobby’s crow’s nest, no trace bias been found of the airmen. All the trappers living on the north c-oast hut,s in (Spitsbergen have been warned to keep a look-out. —Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • SEARCFT ’PLANES ARRIVE. TO PROCEED NORTHWARDS. (Received June 18, 1.35 p.m.) LONDON, June 17. A wireless from King’s Bay on June 17 stated that the Hobby immediately got in touch with the Heimdale, lying in Advent Bay. The Heimdale advised that the pilots and two aeroplanes which were sent by the Norwegian G-overnment would be ready to start when she gave the word. The Heimdale, after ascertaining that ice conditions were favourable in the north, left Advent Bay at 4 a.m. She wirelessed that instructions had been given to the pilots and ’planes to get ready to start. Two aeroplanes ascended from Advent Bay at 9.45 in ideal weather and bright sunshine, with a slight easterly breeze. At 11 we heard thei roar of the engines, and a few seconds later the Hobby put out a boat to the aeroplanes, which descended about 11.35 a.m.

It is understood that the aeroplanes fly at a speed of 80 miles per hour and at a height of 4000 feet. The Hobby will proceed northwards from Danes Island to-night, with orders to place buoys at Wellman’s Bay, where the aeroplanes can lie moored. The aeroplanes will proceed northwards as early as possible. The is expected here at 7 and N.Z. Assn.

In previous messages the name of the mother ship of the expedition has been given as Fram, This is not qnite correct, and the vessel used by Amundsen is the Norwegian naval transport Farm. It should not be confused, owing to the similarity in the names, with Nansen’s famous ship Fram. The latter, an auxiliary schooner, was the vessel in which Nansen accomplished his celebrated drift to the North, Pole in 1893. On that occasion he gob nearer to the Pole than anyone had ever done before. It was in the Fram that Amundsen carried out his expedition to the Antarctic in 1910. For the purposes of the present adventure the Norwegian Government placed at the explorer’s disposal the transport Fram.