FOR ANTARCTICA

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1933, Page 3

FOR ANTARCTICA

ELLS WO RTH EXPEDITIONPREPARATIONS FOR SAILING. DUNEDIN, November 20. Work on the Wyatt Earp is making good progress, and there is no reason to expect that the vessel will ,J>e delayed at. Dunedin after December 3. The leader, Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth, has gone to Christchurch, and is due to return to Dunedin cn November 26. Apparently there is a race between the Ellsworth and Byrd expeditions to reach Antarctica, first. The expeditions are entirely independent-of each other, but it is known 'that Mr Ellsworth is not desirous of. being headed in reaching the ice barrier. A message, from the Jacob - Ruppert has already indicated that Rear-Admiral Byrd is anxious to speed U P his trip south, and not to delay the ships jn New Zealand waters.

. The petrol for the Northrop Gamma monoplane was to-day emptied from 160 drums into big tanks on the deck of the Wyatt Earp. -Mr. .Bernt Balehen and Mr C. Braathen, the mechanic, who was also with Rear-Admiral Byrd, are stfjl assembling the aeroplane, which Mr Balehen states to bo in us; good condition as when it left the United States. The painting of .the monoplane has not yet been carried out. Only the top section of the fuselage is to be painted. The colour is to be orange which has been .proved to be.the most discernible at a distance.