TALK WITH COMMANDER EVANS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1585, 31 October 1912, Page 6

TALK WITH COMMANDER EVANS.

ANTARCTIC MATTERS.

An arrival by tho Maunganui from Sydney yesterday was Commander Evans, R.N., of tho British Antarctic Exploring ship Terra Nova. Iu tho course of a 6hort interview lie stated that his ship would probably leave Tj.vttclton towards the end of December. Tho ship's company, who have been engaged in surveying tho eastern approach to tho French Pass, have completed their work, and having rotnrnod, will spend tho next eight weeks in fitting and preparing her for her southern journey. Ho expected to arrive at Capo Evans Ctho expedition's base) at about tho middle of January, and by that time he anticipated that Captain Scott and his various Bledpring parties would have assembled there. As far as ho knew the, whole of the southorn pnrty would then embnTk 011 tho Terra Nova for New Zealand, and her arrival might be looked, for towards tho end of March.

Asked as to whethor he thought Captain Scott had actually reached the Polo, Commander Evans replied that, provided everything wont well, and the weather conditions were good, Captain Scott had arrived at tho Pole either on January 11 or 15 of this year.

Commander Evans loft by tho Maori for tho South Inst, evening, accompanied by Mrs. Evans and Mr. P. R. H. Drake, R.N., secretary of tho British Antarctic Expodition. Mr. Drake is to proceed south in tho Terra Nova, and when tho vessel arrives back at Now Zealand he will leave for England.