TERRA NOVA SAILS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 985, 28 November 1910, Page 7

TERRA NOVA SAILS.

LYTTELTON EN FETE. : AN ENTHUSIASTIC SEND-OFF. i DIVINE SERVICE HELD. ' : i (By Telo2rai)h.-Prcs3 Association.) I Chrlstchu/ch, November 26. I From an early hour this \ until her departure this afternoon, all i on board the Antarctic Expedition's l j ship Terra Nova were kept busy. • j Though tho- decks of the old-time j whaler were- the scene of much bustle, :i thero was no confusion, everyone going j about his duties in a businesslike- and j orderly fashion. The carpenters com-. 1 pleted their work, and the big motor- j sledge cases were further secured with ' stout ropo lashings and chains, atid .' .-j heavy timber shows were fitted between - j bho cases to give further support.. The "'■! pony stalls on deck were covered with j stout canvas, fastened with battens ' j well nailed down, while spare ladders, -i chutes, timber, and spars were stowed" "i away wherever room could be found. . j

At eleven o'clock a motor launch, with the dogs aboard, arrived from Quail Island, and some time was occupied in transferring them to tho Terra Nova's deck, where they wero chainod' up to the convenient stanchions and the '. like. Tho two dogs presented by Commander Peary to the- expedition were kept apart, and maintained a dignified , air. Divine Service. The work of getting the ship ready.V for sea was completccf by noon, when.! -Divino service was conducted on thepoop by the Rev. E. Eliot Chambers,,' Bishop Julius preaching a short impressive sermon. The members of the expedition and crew of the Terra Nova seemed , much moved by the simple and sincere service. Captain and Mrs. Scott, Dr. and lira.' Wilson, Mr. B. C. Day (motor expert), and Mr. J. J. Kinsoy (local Tepresenta- , tive of the expedition) were entertained at lunch oh board the Ruapehu by the , chairman and directors of. tho New ■ Zealand Shipping Company. The function was of an informal nature, and the toast, "Success to the Expedition," was heartily honoured. As tho time of departure drew near, very large crowds congregated on the wharves and' on excursion, steamers.' Air the vessels iu ' port displayed bunting;; which also flew from many business places at Lyttclton, Towed Out Amid Cheers. At ten minutes to' three the Lyttelton Harbour , ; Board's tug was alongside, tho Terra Nwa,- from which a line waa conveyed, and tho tug canted tho nose of the exploring vessel from the wharf. •. This accomplished, an outburst from syrens, explosion of Doz signals, and cheers from tho crowd announced , that tho Terra. Nova had started on her adventurous journey. She was - accompanied down the harbour by the tug, on which wero between three and. four hundred guests of tho Harbour; Board, and by a small steamer and! motor launches. When abreast of i H.M.S. Cambrian the jack tars hailed' the expedition with hearty Britishcheers, which wore as heartily re-, sponded to. At 2.25 p.m., Captain and Mrs.. Scott and tho pilot were trans* ferred from the Terra Nova to the tug, and the old whaler, amidst the cheers of thoso on board. the- accompanying vessels, sped seawards'. ■ ' '.'•"Prime Minister's Message. ~, chairman of the Lyttelton HaN hour' Board (Mr. H. C. Friedlander) received the following, telegram from) the Right Hon. the.Prime Minister:— "Lady "Ward and I regret ex- '• ceedingly that we are unable to accept tho kind invitation of yonrself aud tho members of the. Lyttelton Harbour Board to witness the departure of the Terra Nova from the tug-boat Canterbury. We join . with you all in wishing tho expedition 'God-speed.'—J. G. Ward." Captain pcoit joins tho Terra Nova , at Port Chalmers on Monday, the vessel leaving that port next day.-