IN ANTARCTICA

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1929, Page 5

IN ANTARCTICA

(By Russell Owen—Copyrighted 192# by the New York Times Company, and St. Louis Post Despatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to New York Times.) BYRD’S VENTURE. NEW RANGE DISCOVERED. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) BAY OF WHALES, Dec. o. Commander Byrd started the first eastern exploration flight this season, taking off at 10.30 this morning; with Pilot Captain Parker, in the direction of King Edward Land, which holds the key to one of the Antarctic’s mysteries. It has long been a source of speculation as to what holds the ice there, as it curves to the north; its formation indicating that somewhere in that direction to the north is land. Whetliei it is a series of small islands or an extension of the coast line has never been learned. There have been many a tempts to penetrate the ice that way. Scott and Shackleton tried and were turned back by ice closing about them, and Byrd tried three times last yeai to get north with the City of New York, turning back only when to go on might have meant imprisonment and the possible loss of the ship. Twice last year he tried to fly past what is known of King Edward Land, hut was headed off by snow and clouds. It has been one of the impenetrable and interesting lands of tbe Antarctic continent, ns whoever solves the mystery as to what keebs that mass of ice held to the north, will probably be able to delineate the new coast line. The following bulletins were received from Byrd at noon : Excellent visibility. Can see Rock Feller mountains to the south clearly, also high mountain ahead, just a Tittle to the rigid of Scott’s Nunatak. We are about twenty miles west of Scott’s Nunatak. Air is rough and motors fine.” One o’clock :--Many mountain peaks past Scott’s Nunatak. We are over an unexplored area, .and new mountains, and are mapping the unknown coast line. Now are two miles westward of coast line over water, so .that McKinley can map. Have made more than 100 miles per hour. All well.” GREAT RANGE DISCOVERED. One thirty: “We have discovered a great mountain range in (Marie Byrd Land, running generally in a north and south direction. We hope this is worth while for science, for we are flying in rough weather and taking chances to map it.” ' TO JOIN I 3I r RD. : AUCKLAND, Dec. 6. In answer to an urgent telegraph message from DunefTin the Auckland wireless expert, Mr R. J- Oroell, has let hurriedly for the South to join the Byrd Antarctic Expedition. The nature of the work Mr Orbell will be required to do is not disclosed, but he anticipates lie will be engaged chiefly in maintenance work in connection with the extensive radio apparatus carried by the Expedition. While the expedition was at Port Chalmers he gained a close professional friendship with Mr Lloyd Lorknei, the chief radio expert, who was keenly interested in (Mr Orbell’s work. He is recognised as an authority on all matters connected with radio. He is technical editor of “New Zealand Radio, and is construction engineer to Radio Limited, Auckland.

Mr Orbell expects to return from the Antarctic in February.