ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 459, 18 March 1909, Page 5

ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

EXPECTED RETURN OF THE NIMROD. NO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY. IDT tbikuuaiwi—rursa asoocia no.v.j Christchuroh, March 17. It appears that the anxiety expressed in some quarters in respect to the non-arrival to date of tho British Antarctic expedition's ship Nimrod is somewhat premature. It is of course impossible to stato when tho little vessel with the explorers on board will return. She may put in au appearanco any day, but the fact that she has not yet arrived is looked upon as a favourable omen rather than an unfavourable one. It is officially stated that the Nimrod is not expected to reach Lyttclton from the Antarctic till tho early part of. ne,\t month. Tho instructions given to Lieutenant Evans, who commands tho vessel, are to the effect that in tho event of anything of an unusual or unexpected 'character having befallen members of the expedition, he w*s to leave the expedition's base at the earliest possible opportunity. It is estimated that tho earliest date upon which the Nimrod could have left tho Antarctic was February 15, and if sho had done so and .met witli no mishaps on tho high seas she would havo been in Lyttclton ere this. _ Fi'om the point of view that tho Nimrod is not expected till next month, it is considered that so long as sho does not put in an appearance till then all has gono well with the members of the expedition and with tho ship's company. As to tho instructions given to Lieutenant Evans, should ho find that any of tho three exploring parties havo not returned in time to allow tho Nimrod to get out of the ice this season, no information is yet available. It is considered only right that tho" Nimrod should be given an opportunity to put in an appearance at Lyttclton at tho timo sho is expected before making public the instructions that havo been given and are to bo followed in the event of tho contingency above referred to having arisen. ;

Captain England, ivlio took the vessel south on the lirst trip, on being interviewed, stated that it is impossiblo to fix ovon mi approximate dato for her arrival. Even if she was not here till tlio end of April tliero would bo no occasion for anxiety. Everything depends entirely upon circumstances, and tlio movements of the exploring party in tho south.