POLAR EXPLORATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 33

POLAR EXPLORATION.

COMSSANDER BYRD’S EXPEDITION SHIPS TO ASSEMBLE AT DUNEDIN. WELLINGTON, August 27. A cable message from New York published to-day stated that the barque City of New York, the flagship of Commander Byrd's Antarctic expedition, carrying 32 men and a cargo of supplies and stores, left that port on Saturuay for Dunedin. During his recent visit to New York, Mr H. L. Tapley (member for Dunedin North) met Commander Byrd, and discussed with him the plans of his expedition, more particularly those connected with his mam base of supplies in the Sou them Hemisphere. Mr Tapley said he finally persuaded Commander Byrd that New Zealand, and Dunedin in particular, offered special advantages as a “ hopping off ” place for the Antarctic. The Otago Harbour Board had offered Commander Byrd all the facilities of the port, including wharfage, storage, and docking free of charge. In addition, Mr Tapley offered, on behalf of his own firm, to act as the New Zealand agents or the expedition and to carry out any work in that connection free of any charge in order to further the objects of Commander Byrd. Mr Tapley said he had been greatly impressed with the personality of the leader of the expedition. The main supply ship was the auxiliary barque City of New York, formerly the Samoan, which was due to arrive at Dunedin about the end of September or early in October. Another ship, the Chelsea, would leave New York for Dunedin nextunonth. Commander Byrd was coming to New Zealand by - a passenger steamer, and would take charge of the expedition on his arrival at Dunedin about the end of October. In all probability the large and powerful aeroplanes to be used on the Antarctic flights wouli be shipped on bo-ard the Norwegian whaling ship C. A. Larsen, which was due in New Zealand preparatory to going to the Antarctic some time in October. If it could be arranged the C. A. Larsen, which was more suitable for the purpose than Commander Bryd’s own ships, would take the aeroplanes south from New Zealand.