ADMIRAL BYRD

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 119, 16 April 1930, Page 9

ADMIRAL BYRD

WELCOMED At STATION. ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. “TEAM WORK WON.’' Rear-Admiral Byrd, accompanied by Mr Russell Owen, and Mr D. Ardell, New Zealand Government representative, was a passenger by the Main Trunk express to Wellington this morning. The party stopped for a few minutes at Palmerston North, where they were welcomed at the station by the Mayor (Mr A. J. Graham) and the town clerk (Mr J.ti. Hardie), and Crs. Tremaine and Low. Extending a welcome to Rear-Ad-miral Byrd, on behalf of the residents of Palmerston North, the Mayor <xpressed regret that the party were unible to spare time for a longer stay tt the town. Mr Graham congratuated the visitor on his safe return rom an extremely arduous undertakng. The people of Palmerston gNorth joined their praises with those ftf all New Zealanders at Rear-Admiral Byrd’s exploits in the search for Knowledge, and in the interests of ■bmanity.’ Palmerston North bad Hllowed his career with the greatest Hterest. Ho had made history .and Es name would never be forgotten in Hois country. The Mayor wished the pisitor a pleasant trip to his homeland ind assured him that his future exploits would be watched with the greatest interest. Rear-Admiral Byrd replied briefly, thanking the Mayor for the welcome extended to him and expressing the hope that his thanks would be conveyed to the residents of Palmerston North. “It was a matter of teamwork,” he said, “and I received the greatest possible assistance from my comrades.” HELP FROM NEW ZEALAND. Quiet and unassuming, Rear-Admiral Byrd is the antithesis of tho popular conception of his countrymen. ±i© is very modest concerning his achievements, and shares the praise bestowed upon him with the other members of the expedition. He is 41 years of age, but looks little over thirty. Coming from the south of the United States he has little of the American accent which, however, is evidenced at times by a pleasant drawl in his speech. Interviewed by a “Standard” reporter, Rear-Admiral Byrd expressed his regret at being unable to make a longer stay in Palmbrston North. He had heard fine reports of the town, and was very impressed with the surrounding country and the glimpse l.e had . secured as the train passed through the Square gardens. He had every admiration for* the assistance that had been given him by New Zear land and would go as far as to * say that the help he had received in this country was equal to that forthcoming from his own. The organisation had been wonderful and he had nothing but praise for the arrangements made.

Rear-Admiral Byrd said that the t opportunities given him of studying f New Zealanders at close range had & been a very agreeable experience. §k “They are full-blooded,* generous men t|| and women,” ho said. " “I have |{j been to practically every country in Hr the world and can say without fear Wof contradiction, that they are [ among the finest types I have met, . as full-blooded, and perhaps more so, | than their forefathers, the English.” 1 While in Rotorua he had had a - chance of meeting the Maoris, .and as a race they made 1 a fine impression on him. ANTARCTIC EXPERIENCES. Speaking of his adventures in the Antarctic, Rear-Admiral Byrd said that the temperature was undoubtedly colder than the northern Polar legions. The glass was never above zero, and on one occasion touched : 2 degs. below. Seventy degrees below was no uncommon experience. The expedition was, however, well quipped to withstand the cold, though the hardships at times were severe. When asked whether the reflection from the sun on the snow created any warmth, as is the case in snow-bound portions of New Zealand, tho reply was “J\ot that you’d notice it.” “I. certainly would not call it a warm climate,” said the speaker with a smile. Rubbing his ( face, he added: “Why I got sunburned after feeling a few hours sunshine in Rotorua. “Our greatest boon was the radio, said Rear-Admiral Byrd. “It was necessary to use a short-wave set, but we were able to hear a special broadcast once a week and to keep in touch with the world daily. The latitude had no effect on the static, which was as bad on occasions, as in any other part of the world. “The Aurora Australis was a nightly occurrence and the effects were wonderful, and beautiful beyond description. They seemed to have no effect on the wireless transmission. ' Rear-Admiral Byrd said that he had taken every precaution to guard against the aeroplanes becoming affected by the extreme cold. Ordinary .petrol would have sufficed at . a pinch but the fuel used was a special preparation designed to combat the low temperatures. ' i Accompanying the Rear-Admiral is his four-year-old fox terrior, This animal is probably the best travelled of its species in the world, having been within 800 miles of each Pqle. Rear-Admiral Byrd * will attend a function in Wellington to-night and will proceed to Dunedin to-morrow, where he has business to attend to in connection with his two ships. He will sail for New York on April 28.