SCALING EVEREST.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1924, Page 1

SCALING EVEREST.

WHO’S WHO IN THIRD EXPEDITION. WKLLXOTON, May 10. New Zealand has a special interest in the Mount Everest expedition, now nearing the base of the great peak, because through the New Zealand Alpine- Club, she was in a small way iv contributor to the funds of the lirst expedition which did the reconnaissance work. The present expedition is the third, and it is hoped and believed it will conquer the mountain. The Everest Committee was fortunate in finding General Bruce, the leader cf the 1322 expedition, fit and able to go again, but unluckily he'has fallen a victim to fever, and has had to return to Dariccling. By a'recent mail T received a letter from the General, written as the expedition was on tho point ol leaving that place. He was then very hopeful of success ,nttd wrote: —

“1 think, if the monsoon will onlykeep off for a little longer than usual we have a good chance. We have a first-rate lot-of'fellows in the expedition. 1 am taking a bottle of the family old rum, bottled in 1782, and (till drink the health of the New Zealand Alpine Club on April 7tlt tit Phari Dzong.”

New wo learn that'General Bruce has not been able to -accompany ‘flic expedition all the way, and his absence will‘be .much felt. Fortunately however, in Colonel E. I'. Norton, 1)..R.A., the expedition has a very excellent second in command, lie was one of the three in the 1922 expedition who made the high climb without oxygen, the others being Mr George Leigh Mallory, and Air T. Howard Somerville. PICTURES AT 23,100 FEET.

Captain Geffrey Bruce, (sth Gurkhas, and, it is hoped, Corporal l’ejhir, who were in the second high climbing parly were to join the expedition at Darjeeling. Captain J. ('. Morris, of the -3rd Gurkhas, was again to he one of the transport officers, and Captain J. IL L. Noel, who made the famous kiucmatorgraph record ol the last expedition. is again tho official photographer.

On that occasion he took'his mat-hine to the record height of 23,(100 feet. Tt is largely the.proceeds from the exhibit ion of his wonderful flints that have made the present expedition possible.

In addition to all these well-qualified men, the committee' has been able to add four other climbers of the first rank to this year’s expedition. These are: Mr N. E. O’Dell, of the Imperial College of Science; Mr Beutly Beetham of Darlington; Mr A. C. Irving, of Merton College, Oxford, who rowed in the Oxford boat in 1923; and Mr J. tie V. Hrpnrd. NEW OXYGEN CYLINDERS.

For the present expedition the oxygen apparatus has hen redesigned. A new type of cylinder has been manufactured by Messrs Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., and adopted after tests at the National Physical Laboratory and the Research Department of the Royal Arsenal. Three cylinders will carry 50 per cent, more gas than four cylinders ’varied in 1022, without any increase in weight. Atuch care and attention have been bestowed upon the other equipment.

Alnjor R. G. W. Kingston, 1.A1.5., was released bv the Air .Ministry from his duties at Bagdad to act as medical (.fllrer and naturalist, and Air E. 0. ShepOoarc, of the Indian Forest Service, shares with Captain Rrnco and Captain Alorris transport duties. The instrumental equipment is very similar to that of the last expedition.