ELEANOR BOLING LEAVES DUNEDIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19035, 2 April 1930, Page 13

ELEANOR BOLING LEAVES DUNEDIN.

BYRD MAY MAKE A LONGER STAY IN N.Z. (Special to the “Star.”) DUNEDIN, April 1. Shortly after 4.30 p.m. to-day the steamer Eleanor Boling, carrier of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, will cast off her moorings at the Rattray Street wharf and sail for Tahiti. RearAdmiral Byrd made the definite announcement this morning. He is anxious that the vessels should reach the United States without delay. By the time the ships head up the Hudson to an anchorage in New York Harbour, they will have been absent from their home port for nearly two years. As the commander does not want the vessels to be delayed at Papeete the Eleanor Boling will be hurried along to catch the City of New York, which has nine days’ lead and has already completed half the journey of 2300 miles. Although Admiral Byrd# departure from Dunedin has been set down to take place on Monday morning next, the arrangements are as yet far from definite. Advice was received from Wellington this morning that there was a possibility of accommodation being available for the Admiral and his staff on the Rangitiki, which is due to leave Wellington for Panama on April 24. Until definite advice of the reservations is received, the schedule by which the party will leave the Dominion on April 9 on the Corinthic stands. However, the commander is making every effort to defer his departure. If he succeeds in obtaining passages on the Rangitiki he will have an additional fortnight in New Zealand, and his stay at Panama, awaiting the arrival of the expedition ships, will be shortened. A longer stay in the Dominion, i\dmiral Byrd confesses, would please him greatly, as all the people had gone out of their way to make him happy. He would like to see some of the beauties of the country. If he is able to stay in New Zealand till April 24 he will be able to finalise the business affairs and then make a tour of the southern lakes district. “I am being overwhelmed with offers of hospitality in the north,” said the Admiral to-day. “I cannot say how delighted I am at the friendly gestures towards the expedition; but I cannot see my way, unfortunately, to accept the many invitations unless my departure is deferred. I will be sorry if I have to leave on Wednesday next, for nothing Vj’ould give me greater pleasure than to see more of New Zealand and its charming, hospitable people.” In the meantime the date of Admiral Byrd's departure has been set down for Monday at 8.40 a.m., when he will , leave for Wellington to embark on the Corinthic, which is to sail at 5 p.m. on April 9. Admiral Byrd will arrive in Christchurch on Monday at 5.10 p m and will be accorded a civic reception, ■ leaving again at 7.20 p.m. to catch the ferry steamer. On Tuesday morning Admiral Byrd will be given a civic reception in Wellington. Later in the day he will make a call on the Gover- , nor-General, and he will depart on the following day,