NEW ZEALAND GLACIERS

Press, Issue 14828, 20 November 1913, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND GLACIERS

CAPTAIN B. HEAD'S LATEST EXPEDITION? MAPPING OUT NEW COUNTRY. Captain B. Head, tho well-known explorer, arrived in Christchurch on Tuesday, and left this morning Tor Dunedin, to make preparations for his latest, expedition. In a short interview with a reporter, Captain Head gavo a, brief summary of his plans. Captain Head stated that at the beginning oi December ho was going doivn to the Hermitage, and intended to get a complete set of photographs of tho Tasman glacier from the terminal face upwards. Ho would also try and get the line of movement of this glacier. The modus operandi in this caso would be to put a line of poles across the glacier, lining them out with a theodolite. Twenty-four hours later, it was possible to see if the poles had shifted. They would then strike a line out again very carefully, and by measuring down could get the exact daily movement. The flow would ouly be a matter of inches in this case, although in Greenland glaciers the movement was as much a* over 50 feet in twenty-four hours. The work was of great importance in tho scientific world. It could not bo said that a glacier was liko a. river: there was no even movement, and tho reason why was tho question upon which thero was little agreeir.cn*. and great controversy Captain Head went on to say that perhaps hi any people did not know oi tho eighty named glaciers in New Zealand ; the Tasman glacier had particular prominence, because it was the biggest valley glacier in the world, excepting ono in the Himalayas and one in Alaska. "I. call it," ho added, "tho biggest 'civilised' glacier, because it can bo so easily reached—only a matter of 24 hours' journey from Christchurch." Another point which distinguished New Zealand glaciers was that the glacial lino was lower than at any other point outside the Arctic or Antarctic circles. —Tho terminal face of tho Tasman glacier was 2354 feet above sea level, whilo on tho West Coast the Fox camo down to 670 feet above sea level. It should also bo noted that, with the exception of work done by Mr T. X. Brodrick littlo glacial work had ever been done in tho Mount Cook district. Commencing in January next, Captain Head proposes to make a trip up the Daft \-alley. Tho SurveyorGoneral has authorised a Government surveyor to accompany him on the trip, and to do work at the head of the Dart, which is unsurveyed. Tho expedition promises to produce most valuable information in a district about which little is known. Captain Head is taking Jack Clarko -with him, but has not yet engaged his second guide.