BACK TO ANTARCTICA.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1912, 21 November 1913, Page 7

BACK TO ANTARCTICA.

AURORA SAILS FOil SOUTH. The auxiliary barque Aurora slipped away from Williamstown at 10.30 a.m. ,on Tuesday of last week without ostentatious ceremony or display, jjiul doparted. on lior journey to the Antarctic regions 'to pick up Dr. Jlawson and the rotriaimlGF of Ills exploration party who were dropped by t-lio vessel on tho ico last sumirvir. As the Aurora swung; away from the dockyard pier a small knot 01 porsonal friends, together with the dockyard eniployeoii, gave tjcf a rousing cliee'r, which was heartily rcturnc'l by Captain ])avis and his'crew of eighteen, and 1 , quickly getting way on, the little vessel moved down; the Lav, Swkl was soon lost to Captain Davis, when interviewed prior to .sailing, laughingly referred to tho arduous voyage to tlio I'olar i:o----gkms as "a pleasuro trip s '' after tho strenuous time ho had experienced' ashore during the past jew weeks l preparing for the voyage. Ho expressed. great satisfaction .at- the thoroughness with, wiiich the Government had car-1 ried out the overhaul of .the Aurora, which was- now in excellent trim., and', also gratefully acknowledged. the maiw courtesies extended to him by sympailiisors in Victoria. A call will bo mado at Hobart to complete collection of ■stores. After a few days the next stage ■ to Maequario Isand will be commenced. It Is exptectiefl. that' Macqiiario Island ■ will bo reached about November 27. A few days will ho spent there, and a large collection of scientific data, obtained by tho section of tho party who havo been there for nearly two years, forming a comiccting link "between Dr. ll.nwson's depot and Australia by trans- ■ m.i.tting news per wireless. A.n Vip-to-<lato chart of this little-known, island and its vicinity will also be made. Providing favourable weather iss encountered and nothing untoward happens, Dr. Mawson's base at Commonwealth Bay should bo. reached and his Party embarked about the middle of December. The vessel will probably not return immediately, but- scientific investigations will bo continued along the ice shore! until the approach of wintor, A .start will then be made "to Australia, and probably Hobart will ■ ho reached again aboiit April next. Jtr. Iluliter, of" Kydndy University, is making the trip south as geologist,,, and Mr, F. Hurley, the expedition's photographer, also returned by tho Aurora. The Aurora, carried, about 509 tons Df coal, which viftii the judicious uso of her sails is expected "to l>o ample to last Ijer throughout tho. vovaire.