WILKINS MOVES WEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 866, 9 January 1930, Page 11

WILKINS MOVES WEST

EXPLORATION HARDSHIPS IN PACK ICE SEARCH FOR NEW LANDS Reed. 1.15 p.m LONDON, Wed. A copyright message from Sir Hubert Wilkins from Deception Island says: "We are back again. We fixed the North Coast of Charcot Land five miles south of its charted position. The cape where the coast turns south beyond the most easterly point is conspicuous enough to deserve a name. 1 suggest that it be called Mawson Cs.pe. Another cape at longitude 76 west and latitude 70 south I should like to be known as Cape Byrd. "We sighted two islands, which are possibly the most easterly. It is uncertain as to the number of islands belonging to the Finlay Group. “It is unlikely that we shall return to New York until April owing to the dangerous uncertainty of flights across the pack ice. “We are unable to make -he Ross Sea flight because of the absence of a suitable take-off. "We are postponing our Arctic plans for a year.” In an earlier message Sir Hubert "Wilkins said: "We have practically completed arrangements to continue our explorations westward of our recent discoveries. The William Scoresby will leave tomorrow to refuel and load provisions.

Our further success will depend largely upon the condition of the pack ice, which in December prevented us from approaching within 150 miles of the shore southward of our position. The ship could not penetrate the ice, and the seaplane could not take off.