COMMANDER BYRD

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1929, Page 8

COMMANDER BYRD

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRIBUTE. MESSAGES FROM ANTARCTICA. DUNEDIN, Sept. 2. At a function held recently in Dunedin in honour of tho captains, officers, and men of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition ships, Eleanor Bolling, and City of New York, Captain G. L. Brown, of the first-named vessel, paid a very high tribute to the remarkable work carried out by Commander Byrd in his projected flight to the North Pole, and also to the tasks he had already overcome since the present expedition left New York and during the long winter period spent in the.. Antarctic regions.

Captain Brown’s testimony to his leader’s wonderful qualifications was forwarded ito Commander Byrd, by wireless, from one of the Expedition ships now laid up at Port Chalmers, and towards the end of August the master of the Eleanor Belling received. a long wireless message in acknowledgment from the leader of the Expedition. The message, which was dispatched from Little America. Antarctica, read as follows: “I am greatly pleased with your message, and although I do not deserve what you said, I am human enough to appreciate. I realise how disappointing it has been for you and your comrades, whose duties 'necessitated your returning the ships to New Zealand, through the' hazards of the ice and storms. The re turn trip from the Ice Barrier to Port Chalmers fell to your lot because you and your comrades were best equipped to cany it through, and I think it was one oT the greatest accomplishments of the whole expedition, and I take this opportunity to congratulate you again. I know how disappointed you must have been in not being able to stay on the ice. The part you and your comrades have had to .piny is just as important as the part we have to iplay, and alien in the face of your disappointment vou still give a true loyalty to the Expedition I wish to say that I appreciate such loyalty. I wish to impress Upon you that in view of all this I consider your loyalty of an unselfish quality. Your message t© me is a reflection of your own fine spirit, and I wish to express mv gratitude and my sinc-erest good wishes, and to express the hope that the Expedition will bo a real benefit to you during the rest of your life. Every man on tho Ice Baiiier joins in warm good wishes to you all. They all realise that your job is harder than ours. It is a treat to see the sun again.”

Commander Byrd has forwarded to the United States Navy Department. Washington, a recommendation that Captain Brown should be promoted to the rank of 'lieutenant, senior grade, in the Merchant Marine Naval iteserve. A similar recommendation was made in December last, but at that time the Bureau of Navigation of tho Navy Department regretted its inability to act on the suggestion because of (requirements which Captain Brown could ’ not meet for a period of at least one year. In the interval Commander Byrd reports that “Captain Brown, in charge of the supoly ship Eleanor Bolling, made a hazardous and difficult voyage to the Bay of Whales, and back to Port Chalmers, and in negotiating the ice pack in a steam vessel he accomplished a feat which many declared could not be done. I am, therefore, taking the liberty of again recommending Captain Brown for promotion.” Commander Byrd concludes, his message to the Navy Department, Washington, in the following words: “You will be pleased to know that during the Ibrief stay of the expedition in New Zealand the Government and people were most cordial, ami gave many evidences of their friendship for the United States Navy. The visit of the American Fleet to the Dominion a few years ago will long he remembered by New Zealanders, and did much to promote a feeling of good fellowship between the two countries. All of Little America send cordial good wishes to you and your staff.”

A fine specimen of a carved tobac-co-pipe of genuine Maori workmanship was knocked down in a Wellington auction room the other day for 15s. A bargain. There are plenty of carved pipes of allegedly Maori make about. Most of ’em were made in Birmingham. The genuine .article is scarce, and worth money. Pipe carving is becoming a lost Maori art. Fortunately there’s plenty of New Zealand tobacco, though! And it’s not only of extraordinarily fine flavour, sweet, cool, and fragrant, hut, unlike the foreign brands is practically free, from nicotine, so that you can smoke it all day long and feel no ill effects. This is due in part to the soil in which it is grown, and in part to the toasting of the leaf which process not only largely helps to eliminate the nicotine but develops flavour and bouquet. This tobacco is produced hv the National Tobacco Co. (pioneers' of the N.Z. tobacco industry). Ask for “Rivorhead Gold” (mild), “Cavendish” (medium), “Navy Cut No. 3” (medium), or “Cut Plug No 10” (full strength). Absolutely safe because of the toasting.—Advt.