BACK AT DUNEDIN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20543, 19 February 1935, Page 10

BACK AT DUNEDIN.

Byrd Expedition Returns From Antarctic. VALUABLE SCIENTIFIC WORK. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, February 18. Two days earlier than expected, the Byrd expedition ship, Jacob Ruppert, was sighted off the heads shortly after midday. An hour and a half later the vessel arrived at Port Chalmers, and after medical examination, which found a clean bill of health, proceeded to Dunedin, reaching her berth here at 4 p.m. An official reception was extended to the teader and his party by the Mayor, the Rev E. T. Cox, the acting-chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr John Loudon, and members of the Civic Committee and Harbour Board.

After a sojourn in the Antarctic extending over twelve months, members of the expedition were obviously deto make contact once again with civilisation, and though bearded and bewhiskered, were fresh-complex-ioned, healthy and cheerful. Few, if any, appeared to have suffered from the rigours of the polar regions, but when it is remembered that they enjoyed no company save their own for more than a year, it can well be imagined that they greeted land and the sight of new faces with feelings of heartfelt gratitude. Main Objects Achieved. Rear-Admiral Byrd, in an interview, said that the main function of the expedition had been to ascertain whether there was any connection between Marie Byrd Land and the main Antarctic Continent. As a result of the work of the expedition, they were now satisfied that the existence of such a connecting link had been definitely established. A great deal of scientific work of value had been accomplished. but the full results of this would not be available for at least three years, owing to the necessity for correlating information gathered. The expedition had left behind a large quantity of food and housing material, which would be available for any future expedition. Rear-Admiral Byrd, who leaves for Auckland this morning to meet Mrs Byrd, ■who is due there on Friday, added that he was not prepared to discuss the question of whether he proposed to undertake any further polar exploration. “ I have now completed four major expeditions without the loss of a single life,” he said. “ That is what I regard as the high light of my exploring experience. At the same time,” he added modestly, “ it is due to a special act of Providence and not to any actual skill of my own.” Fresh Milk Daily. The expedition enjoyed fresh milk as a regular article of diet at the Bay of Whales. However, of the three cows taken south, one succumbed to the rigours of the Antarctic, while two others, together with a bull calf born in the far. south, are now on board and in good condition. It is of some interest to speculate on the commercial value of these animals, and especially the calf, by the time they reach America.

Also on board, travelling in luxury in a special ice chamber, are thirtyseven penguins, seventeen of the Emperor variet) 7, and twenty of Adele variety. So far, they have stood the voyage splendidly. Interviewed, geological members of the party state that no minerals of commercial value were found in the Antarctic. Traces were discovered of lead and molybdenite, as well as sive deposits of coal in the Queen Maude area, but their inaccessibility is the chief barrier to their value. Deputy Leader’s Romance. A touch of romance was associated with the arrival of the expedition. While the Jacob Ruppert was still some distance from the point of berthage, Dr T. C. Poulter, the second in command, had hired a special launch and was speeding towards Port Chalmers, where he met Miss Helen Gray, to whom he proposed to be married the same night. Bringing characteristic American bustle to bear on the preliminaries, Dr Poulter was so successful that less than four hours after his arrival his marriage was celebrated in the manse of First Presbyterian Church, Rear-Admiral Byrd giving the bride away. Dr Poulter met Miss Gray while he was a professor at lowa Wesleyan College, and she later assisted him in scientific work. She has been in Dunedin for some time in charge of Dr Poulter’s three children of a former marriage. The pair have been in touch by radio throughout the expedition and it is understood that the marriage arrangements were made over the air.