BYRD EXPEDITION

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1929, Page 5

BYRD EXPEDITION

REFITTING THE SHIPS

RUNEDIN, Nov. iff

The work of preparing the Byrd Expedition ships .City ,of New -York and Eleanor Bolling for their, forthcoming irips to Antarctica is fast proceeding, apd the City of New York is to come out of dock ,at Port Chalmers on Monday or Tuesday, after being scraped and cleaned and painted. The ship will then come on to Dunedin to start the loading of -stores and equipment. Every available' inch of the'-vessel’s space will have to be utilised, and loading will be carried out carefully in order that as great a quantity 1 of material as possible shall be shipped and therefore there is little doubt that the loading operations will continue for some appreciable time. It is to dispatch the ship from Dunedin for the south about December loth. , Next week the Eleanor Bolling is to dock at Port Chalmers. She will be scrubbed and cleaned and minor structural alteration? will be made, to enable her to carry the aeroplanes to Antarctica. This work completed, the Eleanor Bolling will, also come up. to Dunedin 1 to load., She. is expected-jto get away again about January sth. Although the apnroximate dates of departure for both vessels have beeu fixed, it is not certain, that they will leave at those -times,' for the vessels’ movements are governed by reports received f rn m time to time stating the condition o.f the ice pack’. If the ice is in a condition to receive the ships without causing damage, the City of New York and Eleanor Bolling will be awuv about Hie dates fixed, but if on the other hand the ice has :u t broken, they will be compelled lo stay at Dunedin for a period. t