BYRD’S EXPEDITION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 73, 10 March 1930, Page 3

BYRD’S EXPEDITION

ARRIVAL AT DUNEDIN TODAY.

GOVERNMENT’S MESSAGE OE AV ELC’OME.

The following message to Admiral Byrd ahd members of the expedition. who are expected to arrive here on Monday afternoon by the City of New York and Eleanor Bolling, was broadcast from 4ZC on Saturday night by the Attorney-General (Sir Thomas Sidey) on behalf of the Government:—“l have the authority of the Prime Minister to extend on behalf of the Government to yourself and the members of the expedition a very cordial welcome back to New Zealand and very hearty congratulations on the success which has crowned your efforts. We rejoice that your venturseome undertaking has been earned out without loss of life and with little or no sickness. This bears eloquent testimony to the skill and care with which the expedition has been organised. Although to your own country you bring ordinarily the honour and glory of your achieve* ment, the work which you have accomplished is one in the benefit of which the whole world shares. You and your intrepid adventurers will take their place among those who, by their courage and resourcefulness, have added materially to the sum of human knowledge. The full results of your labours have yet to be made known, but that they will be of great value in relation to a portion of the globe about which comparatively little is known, there can be no doubt. We are pleased to welcome you back to our country. We trust you will nave a pleasant sojourn amongst us, and we wish you a safe and triumphant return to your native land.” Word was subsqucntly received from Admiral Byrd intimating that the message had been distinctly received by him. THE VANGUARD ARRIVES. Invercargill March 9. Seven members of Admiral Byrd’s expedition to the South Pole returned to civilisation yesterday by the Norwegian whaler C. A. Larsen. This small party, all of whom were looking fit and well after their long sojourn in the frozen south, is the vanguard of the complete expedition now nearing New Zealand in the Eleanor Bolling and the City of New York.

Five of the party proceeded immediately to Dunedin to be in time tp record the arrival of the principal party. Among the seven were Captain Ashley. C. McKinlay, the aerial surveyor who accompanied Admiral Byrd on bis Hight to the Pole, and Russell Owen, representing the “New York Times,’’ whose name has been prominently before the public of New Zealand as chronicler of the events in the Far South. When approached. the party was very reticent, and explained that the entire events of the expedition wore under strict copyright to the “New York Times.” All seemed exceedingly pleased that the 'long period of isolation had ended.