TOWARDS THE POLE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 924, 17 September 1910, Page 7

TOWARDS THE POLE.

SCOTT'S. PROGRAMME. : "WIRELESS" MAY BE USED. . (By Telegraph.—-Press Association.) ■ Christchurch, September >16. Questioned to-day regarding the work of the Antarctic expedition, Lieut. Bruce'said. that, practically the whole of ■the.staff were on board tho Terra Nova, which- was duo at -Melbourne very shortly. /According to arrangements made .before lie left , Englanu, Lietit. Bruce said that the Terra Nova would leave-Lyttelton on November 15. It was . possible that she would call at Port Chalmers "to." take in coal promised by Sir. James Mills, but on this -point' ho was- not 'certain, From New Zealand : the ship would' go direct to M-'Murdo. Sound,; the journey taking about sixteen days. V The p'arty .woukt be landecj. there, with" liuts, sledges, and all necessary Stores and equipment.' Thenco. the Terra - with Captain Scott on board, would -proceed 'eastward for 500 or 600 miles along, the Great Ice Barrier .to the place where the. second party of. nine men, under Lieut. Campbell, would be 'landed. Tho .vessel would then go back to' M'Murdo Sound to land- Captain Scott, andlafter that .would return to Lyttelton. ' -Some time: during January coal and. stores' would be shipped at this port, and, the' Terra Nova would then set out on an exploring expedition in the Southern Ocean, making- a thorough search, l'or'certain .islands, ' the position of which was ttot exactly' known. This would occupy, about: three months, at the end of which period the ship would onc6' more return to. Lyttelton to De dry-dock'ed : ; and thoroughly . .overhauled and.refitted. .After loading stores-and-coal the ship would again, set out, probably (in; November, ,- 1911, - for M'Alurdo Sound.' It was probable, said Mr. Bruce,- that .Captain Scott■ and;' party would at that' time be aw.ay on their journey to attempt to reach the South Pole;; . After . landing stores,, etc., the vessel would once, more return to Lyttelton _to 'get redely for tile third aild filial journey to Antarctica, to bring' back the nieinbers of the expedition. .

: Wireless Telegraphy; In view of-the fact that tho .New Zealand, Government- is l about to establish 'wireless telegraph stations at various points, ; including the Bluff, a statemerit: made ..by Lieut; Bruce'is of. particular, interest, although nothing defi-. niio h,ad been decided when , lie . left ■England.: He said "it .was quite probable, that the Terra Nova would be fit- . tedij-witli, a;,wireless apparatus .before, shb started'out Lyttelton on , her, second'.-voyage to the, Antarctic:.'-,-;: By' that time wireless -'stations.'in New Zealand'would, be in working order, and it would thus be possible for tho vessel to maintain ,:continuous ':cbmmuhicatibii: with, the Dominion. ' The Motor Sledges. Lieut.; Bruce further 'mentioned that •Mr. "Day, who' was in .charge;of the motor-car used; in 'the' Shackleton '-expedition, was on his'way to New Zealand iii the -Toiigariro, and was bringing. with him. three , motor • sledges,, which had'been' specially designed arid constructed for. Captain Scott's expedition;;. Motorsledges had • been '.tested. as. far as possible in: Norway., It-, was' hoped that.they: would, be-of -valuable assistance .in the work in Antarctica, but too; much : faith was' not being piacedin - them. Tho true test of tlieir efficiency 'would bo made in the Antarctic. : .'; Gi;eat hopes - were, placed in the dog (.^ffit/ K OT6jJthir^^rie :;;! fri'm'Siberia-were' the,pick of 1100 seen by Mr.- Mea'res. ,-They were much heav-•ier,and;-bigger, than those'used in the t)vo -previous;:'expeditions; ■and' , ; they. would doubtless bo a very valuable adjunct to tho work; of the expedition." Lieut. .-Bruce stated that two dog sledges' had -been brought to Lyttelton to be used in working the -dogs while they .were, on Quail Island.'- The -Terra Nova was bringing out-100 sledges for use in the! Antarctic;, arid it' was,.in? terided that: the- motor- sledges and - the ponies . would :bo used .in towing, these across" frozen."expanses of the South. ,' !