Monday 3 June 1974
It being Queen’s Birthday I declared a half day. Had a telephone interview with Bernard Reeve of NZBC, Palmerston North.
Lt Chris Stockwell is making a case to replace the power line towards the US Aurora research station. Our Arrival Heights post gets power along this line and he asked for an estimate of our power draw off. Otherwise stocktake and routine work only.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 8 knots Temperature -23.3°C
Tuesday 4 June 1974
A fairly routine day. Most people producing monthly reports. Mike Wing and I spent the day making up packs of dried apples, flour, onions and sugar in plastic bags for food boxes. In the evening we had a hilarious cooking class with 10 people each trying to make ragout (or stew) on two stoves.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 24 knots Temperature -26.8°C
Wednesday 5 June 1974
Bob Grant spent the day on the Landrover sump and coolant heater. Bill Johnson silver soldered a number of the joints in the plumbing of the heat machine. Laboratory staff are still trying to fix the Base clocks.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 13 knots Temperature -15.8°C
Scott’s Discovery Hut with McMurdo behind
Thursday 6 June 1974
Today we were told that the second stage of the US satellite might be ignited in the sky above us at 1150 hours. We all went outside but could see nothing so gave up. Apparently it was visible at 1210 hours. The US Base plans to hold midwinter celebrations on 21st June. This may be a problem as we may be expected to be in contact with the Antarctic Society and other New Zealand well-wishers at the same time.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 25 knots Temperature -19.5°C
Friday 7 June 1974
Having finally got the power unit of the heat machine installed in the receiver I was dismayed to find that overnight a small oil leak had developed at one union. However there was no help for it so I took it to pieces again. The olive in the union had not been seating properly so made up a copper seating in two tapers and reassembled. So far so good. In the afternoon we had a realistic fire practice with a smoke bomb let off in the hangar. Mike Wing and Chris Wilkins lay on the floor and acted as casualties. It all went off quite well. In carrying Mike Wing outside the rescue team let his boots fall off. They laid him in the snow without boots and when he protested he was told that minor complaints were not expected from those snatched from death’s door.
During the afternoon the laboratory staff checked the vault and reset seismic devices.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 14 knots Temperature -27.4°C
Saturday 8 June 1974
Lt Chris Stockwell again rang from McMurdo. Having cut the ice hole he now has to tow the biologists hut over it and again the US have no vehicle light enough for the job. I undertook to tow the hut from the shoreline to the hole provided the USARP Group would use one of their heavy vehicles to tow it to the shore. Back at Scott Base routine was as usual.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 8 knots Temperature -17.7°C
Sunday 9 June 1974
Nothing to report
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 18 knots Temperature -21.0°C
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