GENERAL RESULTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 467, 27 March 1909, Page 6

GENERAL RESULTS.

WORK IN VARIOUS BRANCHES. (BX lILIQEAPiJ— rBBSS iSSOCIATIONJ Chrlstohurch, March 26. Asked regarding the general results of tho expedition, Lieutenant Shackleton said: The geology of the country has naturally been well looked after, as wo had three geologists on board—Professor David, F.R.S.. Air. Douglas Mawson, B.E. and 13.5 c., and Mr. Raymond Priestley. Very good collections wore made, but at the present moment we cannot say tho full value of tho various finds, because they have to be examined microscopically. In the biological department there is a distinct now feature in the finding of the microscopic animals in tho lakes. Mr. Murray, the biologist, is an authority on this particular branch. One peculiar thing about the rotifera is that instead of laying eggs, as they dp in tomperato climates, they bring forth their young alive, and they can exist in the very lowest temperatures, and even in ice, and yet water of 200 degrees heat will not kill them. It is interesting to note that the New Zealand and Australian magneticiaus predicted good auroral displays in the 60uth, and we had exceptionally 'brilliant aurorae. In fact, we have a photograph taken with an ordinary camera which shows distinctly the auroral light. As regards zoology, Mr. Joyce looked particularly after this branch, and we have a good collection of penguins, seals, etc. Various museums in Australasia will be given specimens of tho fauna and geological collections, also the marine animals. As far as exploration is concerned the expedition has been eminently successful. In answer to a question regarding the work of tho staff, Lieut. Shackleton said that everybody got on splendidly together. Every one not only was interested in _ his own department, but ready to help in other d partments when the need arose. Men who had gone down there to engage in a particular branch of science were quite willing to give a hand wherever it was wanted.

THE EXCESSIVE COLD. (EI TSLEaUIPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Chrlstohurch, March 26. Dr. Mackay, the surgeon of the party, had something interesting to say regarding the physical, effects of low temperatures experienced in the Antarctic regions. He had himself not .been exposed to anything lower than minus 47 so far as could be ascertained, but the minimum thermometers went wrong on the magnetic survey journey, in which he took part, and it waß not possible for bim to speak definitely on the point. One of the effects of an excessively low temperature was that the finger-tips became hardened and lost sensation. Dr. Mackay submitted his finger-tips for examination. They bore the appearance of having been frequently skinned and healed over, the doctor explaining that this was due to the sloughing-off of the skin which was accompanied by frostbite. Another serious effect of severe cold was the loss of sleep. ' Complete unconsciousness and really sound sleep were apparently never attained, though he supposed the irreducible minimum of sleep necessary to life must have supervened; The hardships attendant upon such intense cold were only experienced by him up to about a week before the beginning of spring, after which' the tomperaturo rose daily till December. Down on the coastal ice tbey were really too hot, and went about in sweaters.

SOME SALIENT POINTS. Tho crater of Mount Erebus is estimated to be about a quarter of a mile across and 800 feet deep. Where the intense heat melts the ioe it at once evaporates in 6team. There is an old crater bed doited with fumaroles. "We could have got the other ninety-seven miles to tho Pole, but we oouldn't have got back. We were running so many risks at the time."—Mr. Wild. The Great Ice Barrier, formed partly of glacier ice and partly of snow, is fed by many glaciers, which in turn are fed from snows near the South Polo. The great glacier which the Farthest South party discovered and traversed is one of these. Tho South Pole is probably located on a high wind-swept plateau. Ln tho words of Professor David, "one of the most important geological results is the ..proof that the Antarctic region from Ross Sea to the South Pole is a great continental area in the nature of a high plateau. Its Bouthern extremity near Cape North is from 6000 to 7000 feet above the sea, 7000 feot near the Magnetic' Pole, 8000 feot where it was traversed by Captain Scott, of the Discovery expedition, and about 10,500 feet at tho farthest point reached by Lieut. Shackleton and his party—namely, 88deg. 23min. south." As to microscopical animal life, it is noteworthy that rotifera which were found frozen in the solid ice, perhaps for many years, when brought out returned to life and began to'feed. THE KINEMATOGRAPH PICTURES. CST TKLIGRAPH—rRESS «BSOCIATION.) Chrlstchurch, March 26. Ono of the features of the equipment was the inclusion of a kinematograph. It recorded the unloading of the stores from tho Nimrod in a blizzard, the arrival in Lyttelton Harbour, the starting of the sledge parties, and actions of seals and sea leopards. The most interesting picture of all was of the penguins —the quaintest of birds. Dr. P. Marshall, in charge of the kinematograph, states that the results were highly satisfactory. He uned over 4000 feet of films; about 2000 have been given up to penguins alone, and over '000 feet have been developed. From the scientific point of view the pictures will be the means of adding very largely to the world's knowledge of the habits of Antarctic animals. WHY THE POLE WAS NOT REACHED. A QUESTION OF FOOD SUPPLY. (BI TBLEGBAPH—FEISS ASSOCIATION.) " We could have got the other ninety-seven miles to the Pole, but we couldn't have got back. We wero running so many risks at the timo."

This summary of the position was expressed hy Mr. Wild, one of the Southern Party, in tho course of some fragmentary impressions. "The principal drawback to the whole of the trip," he said, "was the extreme shortness of rood. We were out one hundred and twenty-six days on ninety-one. days' rations. That was as much as we could carry. We were as thin as rakes. Our allowance, which consisted of pemmican biscuits, was to have been thirty-three ounces daily, but at one time it was cut down by nearly half. That for some weeks." CONGRATULATORY. (UT TMJSOKAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Chrlstchurch, March 26. Lieutenant Shackleton has received the following cablegram from the Queen: —"Your telegram received this morning. The Queen has read it with interest, and I have Her Majesty's commands to say she will gladly receive back from you on your return to England the Union Jack entrusted to your charge, and which yon have now made of such historic interest and value. I am further commanded to convey you the Queen's appreciation of your desire, which she gladly consents to, that a new range of mountains discovered by you in tho Far South should be named after Her Majesty.—Dighton Probyn." LIEUTENANT SHACKLETON'S WIRE TO . THE PRIME MINISTER. The Prime Minister received yesterday tho following telegram from Lieutenant Shackleton: — "In tho rush of opening cables have been unable to reply earlier, thanking you for most cordial greeting to the expedition. Your telegram greatly appreciated by all. I trust that tho scientific information gained will be of value to Australasia, and the collections for tho New Zealand museums will bo helpful."

(BT TELEGRAM—PEES 3 ASSOCIATION—COPYniGHT.) (Rec. March 26, 11.50 p.m.) London, March 26. King Edward has - congratulated Liout, Shackleton and Ms comrades.