AN INTERESTING AUTOGRAPH

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1494, 17 July 1912, Page 5

AN INTERESTING AUTOGRAPH

T'nE DISCOVERER OF THE SOUTH POLE. '. A very pleasant) brief, but not unimportant function took place in his Worship the Mayor's room at the Town Hall on Monday morning, when representatives of the Wellington Zoological Society asked his Worship to accept for the city an engrossed document which they piescntcd to him. llcl'ore Captain Amundsen left Wellington for South America he placed his signature to an engrossed agrcemrcit to present to the Wellington Zco one of th.i dogs which had actually been with him to the South Pole. Below his autograph representatives of the Zoological Society have added (in engrossed lettering! an agreement to accept the gift on bahalf of the public. Tho document has been enclosed in a handsome frame, and yesterdav morning it was formally handed to the Mayor by a deputation from the society. The president of the society (tho Rev. J. Crowes) mode the presentation, accompanied by tho treasurer (Mr. •'• C-'astle.i and Mr. Underwood (a member of the executive, who engrossed the agreement). Mr. Crewes reierred to the original negotiations with Captain Amundsen, in the effort that is being made to obtain for the Zoo or for the Museum ono of the splendid dogs which reached the Antarctic Polo, spoke appreciatively of the assistauco kindly rendered bv .the I.S.S. Company, the Now Zealand Shipping Company, the New Zealand Government, the Tasmauian Government officials, mid the Norwegian Consuls at Hobart and Wellington, respectively, in tho attempt to get tho dog, and expressed the hope that the society might yet have the pleasure of handing the dog over to his Worship for him to place in the Zoo. "But," said Mr. Crewes, "seeing the great uncertainty about getting the dog biought alive all the way from Buencs Ayres, and the desirability of laving a certificate showing on - Captain Amundsen's knowledge that the dog presented to us did actually visit tho Pole; and, mareover, considering that Captain Amundsen's autograph would of itself be a thing of ever-increasing interest, we diew up the agreement that we now present to yon as the municipal head of our city. The agreement was engrossed bv Mr. Underwood, and it has been i'ramed'by Mr. Collie, another member of our society. Mr. Castle, the treasurer of the Society, in whose presence the agreement was signed, is here, and he will assure your Worship of the genuineness of 'tho autograph. We would not hide the fact that if the South Polo had been discovered bv some representative of our own nation, tho achievement would hovo been even more gratifying to lis than 'Captain Amundsen's success has been; but.we feel that as long as our people preserve the memorial we now present to you, our children will see that their fathers woulfl not allow their national pride to detract from the meritorious achievement of a distinguished foreigner; but that, rathev, they, by their example, showed that, in their judgment, the State that would lie great in the character, if not in the number of its men, should.allow its sympathy to be as extensive os the human family; and should ever honour and try to emulate, the heroic deeds of the 'best men of every class and nation. AVe have much pleasure in handing to yon this memorial,' which we hope wilj ever be preserved, to keep before the minds of our people the great success of the strenuous efforts of Captain Amundsen, and the reciprocal honour which the distinguished explorer reflected on New Zealand by doing all iu his power to maTk his high appreciation of our efforts to show the' chivalrous esteem in which our people have heartily placed him."

The deputation's reference to the stimulative effect of reminders of the noble efforts of pioneers evidently touched a tender chord in his Worship's heart, and in a very happy mcod he replied. He said that ho would hove liked the council to have been present. He recognised, fully the enterprise of a society working so earnestly in the public interest in a voluntary wjay. It would he wronj- not to recognise the gallantry and energy of Captain Amundsen. He would, have great pleasure in osking the Museum Committee to have the agreement appropriately placed, so that it might be always before ,the children's eyes.. The Mayor referred

to the experiences of t))e early pioneers, mentioning his own father in the opening up of Victoria in the very early days. The work of Ciptain Amundsen conferred a benefit on the whole human race. The citizens would appreciate the fine spirit that had actuated the-society, and on behalf of the council and city he thanked the deputation. His worship admired the Rood work of Mr. Underwood,: who promptly, and in n great hurry, but in good style, enerosse.l the document in time to get Captain Amundsen's autograph; and, Mr. Castle stated that the autograph was genuine, having been signed in the presence of the Norwegian Consul and himself.