FROM MAWSON.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1921, 2 December 1913, Page 7

FROM MAWSON.

CHEERFUL INTELLIGENCE. PERMANENT WEATHER STATION. -Alter a sdenro of about a month—for the last, message, very fragmental, was received from him lata in October—Dr. iiavrsmi, oi\ November 10, re-or/tabiish* od communication with Sydney. On that day_ a wireless message from him was received by Professor David, in winch Dr. Mawson sent Jus wannest thanks to Sir Lucas Tooth for hi;i of £1000 to tho OK* pedition lust at .its greatest need. A Fact New to Science. A wireless message was on tho name day received by Professor Pollock, of Sydney Universit-v, in which Dr. Mawson stated that tho transmission of his wireless messages was being much impeded by the Antarctic aurora. IJv this it would socin that- Dr. Mawson has established tho interesting fact that there is l a very direct connection between tli(j aurora and the transmission cf tho Hertzian waves which earn- tho wireless messages.. This is a fact "quite now to science. A list Continent. Wireless messages were sent to Dr. jiawson announcing that tho Aurora, m command of Captain J. K, Davis, was duo to leave llobart in tho nior?)mg, at 10 o'clock, on her voyage to Adelio Land, via Maetjuario Island. J hanks to tho liberality of Sir Gcorfo Kmg-Uall and Sir Gcorgo I'atey, tho -•..mora has oocn rocciitl v well oquippe-d witii up-to-date sounding apparatus, a;ul vapnaiii Davis hopes to secure a series of soundings between Tasmania and Adelio J,and. On the occasion of his last voyage, ho made the interesting discovery ot the sunken fragment of a lost continent nbont 200 miles south' of iasmama. It is about the s-ime aroa ss Tasmania, and rises to within y-JU iatiioins of the surface, whereas tho surrounding occnn is 'about 2000 fathoms m depth. This is ono of the first practical proofs of tho theory advanced by Mr. Uedlej, of the Australian Siusoum, and other scientists, of a former land coniicctior, between Antarctica and Austnlasia. Captain Davis intends to embark the scientific staff now at Jlncffuai'ip Island, consisting .of Messrs. Sandell (tho wireless ovierator), Ainsworth (tho Federal meteorological observer), JSlako (tho geologist), and Hamilton (the biologist). As tho Federal Government', in view of tin- groat value of the daily meteorological data that havo been wirelessed to Mr. 11, A. Hunt, tho Federal meteorologist, have decided to maintain tho wireless station at Macquario Island for another year for meteorological purposes, the Government is sending down a staff of three—a meteorologist and two wireless operators, to relievo tho staff which will bo embarked on the Aurora.

It is intended that the Aurora, oil "her return from Antarctica, shall make Adelaide. her first port of call, in view of the fact that Adelaide lias not vet been visited by her, and that Dr. Mawrson, formerly of Sydney, now belongs to the tea-siring staff of the University of Adelaide. It is hoped that the Aurora will arrive some time in next March.

It may bo added that the Aurora is taking clown Mr. J. F. Hurley, as photographer and ki.wmatograplicr, whoso pictures token when ho was at the liaso at Atlelio Land last year liavo rert'-iinlv never been surpassed : also Mr. P. E. Corrcll, who was with Dr. Mawson last year, wha goes ibis time in order to take photographs in colour, and also by means of a method which largely eliminates the difficulties which arise from fog. Jfr. J. Hunter, of Sydney University, goes as biologist to sec to tlio proper preservation of tlio specimens from deep parts of the ocean, which it is honed will be _ secured by means of trawling. Captain Davis is 011 this trip well equipped for trawling purposes. The party awaiting the Aurora, Sn addition to Dr. HJawsan, eonsists of Lieutenant It. Bv>e, C. T. Madigan K. H. Biokerton, Dr. A. T... M'Lean, A. J. Hodgeman, arid 8. Jefl'rycs.