DEATH OF DOCTOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22541, 5 October 1936, Page 10

DEATH OF DOCTOR

BYRD EXPEDITION MEMBER INJURY IN THE ANTARCTIC [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] NELSON, Saturday The death has occurred of Dr. Louis Hauiti Potaka, who was brought from Takaka and admitted to the Nelson Hospital late yesterday afternoon in a comatose and unconscious.condition. He died a few hours after admission. Dr. Potaka wrote a note stating that he had been suffering from a severe eyo injury which he met with in the Antarctic. He had not had any proper sleep since January, 1935, and death would be a relief. Dr. Potaka, who was aged 35, had been practising in Takaka for some years, lie was formerly an assistant at the Nelson Hospital, and the Nelson Hospital Hoard's medical officer at jMurehison. lie joined the Byrd Antarctic Expedition in 1934 as medical officer in response to an appeal for relieving medical assistance. Owing to a serious illness, Dr. Shirey. the Byrd Expedition doctor, was forced to return from the Antarctic early in February, 1934, and a wireless message was sent to Now Zealand asking for a fully-qualified doctor and surgvon to replace him at the expedition's base at Little America. Two New Zealanders offered their services, and Dr. Potaka was chosen. Dr. Potaka joined the British research ship Discovery Jl. at Port Chalmers and he travelled south with this vessel until it met the American ship Jacob Huppert, which was carrying Dr. Shirey. Dr. Potaka transferred to the Jacob Huppert and Dr. Shirey to the British ship. Tributes were pa id later by members of the Byrd Expedition to Dr. Potaka's ability, especially in view of the difficulties of work under polar conditions.