THE LAST DAY IN FORT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1312, 15 December 1911, Page 10

THE LAST DAY IN FORT.

4 SCENES ON TERRA NOVA. (By Telegraph—l'rcss Association.) Christcliurch, December 14. Tlio last day in port for the Dritish Antarctic expedition .ship Terra Nova was a busy one ior all on board. The store lists were all ear-elully checked off to ensure that nothing had been omitted. Cases of stores and gear were coming to hand all the morning, and were stowed away in convenient places, and the perishable loodstufi's— including fresh meat, eggs, and iniit—were taken on board, and plaoed ill Iho icc-housc. Shortly before noon the steamer Purau went, alongside tho Terra Nova with the inn lea and dogs, and their harness and other equipment. The-mules were carried in pairs in horse-boxes, and seemed perfectly tame and tractable. The seven mules and the fourteen dogs aro all in splendid condition, and appear to have benefited very considerably by their stay on Quail Island, where they have been trained and exercised daily by .Mr. J. V A. Dennistoun, who is going south in charge of them. This training has usually been carried out to tho accompaniment of a chorus of yelps and howls from tho dogs. The latter were quickly got oil board and tetheied by short chains to convenient stanchions. They exhibited great eagerness to get on board the ship, and settled down quite contentedly. This afternoon they will be placed in their, sea-going quarters on top of tho ice-house, which has been covered with tarpaulins to protect them from the weather. The mules were hoisted on board in the boxes, and, although one or two .kicked jn a somewhat excitable manner when being slung, they wero perfectly quiet when being led into their stalls in the cosy deck-houses. These houses havo been divided by means of'moveable rails, arid the flooring hns> boon covered with thick matting to alford the little beasts a foothold when tho ship is rolling and labouring in heavy weather at sea. In half an houV tho animals were all on board and secured in thoir stalls. The work of squaring up tile ship and stowing ami lashing all deck gear was completed this afternoon, and tho Terra Nova is now quite ready to go (o sea. A weather forecast is being got from the Government Meteorologist, but conditions appear favourable, and the ship will sail at G a.m. to-morrow on her relief vovagc to tho Antarctic.