SEARCH FOR GOLD

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 433, 14 May 1937, Page 2

SEARCH FOR GOLD

IN ANTARCTIC Aerial Survey Of Oates Land London, April 17. While Britain is “making whoopee” over the Coronation, thirty young men, ‘their ages averaging only twen. ty-f-.even, will wrench themselves away from the gaiety and colour and sail into the unknown. They are the members of ths- Walker Expedition, who, af er a year of hard planning, are to sail to lhe regions of the South Pole, in a three-masted schooner on a survey exploration. WT h the aid of an aeroplane, they will also search for gold and other precious metals. All the members of the expedition are young men well under thirty years l of ago They are being led by Commander E. W. Walker —he went to ‘the Arctic in 1930 and 1931. For fifteen months this group of young men will brave all the worst rigours of the uncharted world. Accompanied by geologists, they will set up a base at Wood Bay, and a subbase at Ross Island, and, using a 200 in.p.h. aeroplane, will fly over vast stretches of iceland in an endeavour to trace the uncharted coastline of Oates Land. “All of us know the dangers in advance, and there will be no squetaling once we have started.” Commander Walker, a fresh young man in his twenties said this week. “Exploration after all is essentially a business for young men. Risks must be taken by young men who are unattached, land whose death would not cause sorrow ■o dependents. On'ly three of our members ar© married, and they have made ample and foolproof provision for their wives and children. “The aerial survey, a particularly hazardous business, ig being undertaken by Mr. Robert Pickett, a brilliant twenty-three-year_old pilot, who will have to fly over 1000 miles of icy stretch. The charting of Oates 1 Island is important in itself, but we are going to the Antarctic well prepared lor surprises, and it may turn out to be a treasure hunt as well. There is good reason Ko suppose that the Antarctic conceals fabulous wealth in goldi, silver and radium.”