NEW ZEALAND ENSIGN FOR ANTARCTICA

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2263, 24 September 1914, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND ENSIGN FOR ANTARCTICA

.' PRESENTED TO' MR/ FRANK. .:■ HURLEY. ;.:/- y His Worship'the'"Mayor' (Mr. J.: P. Luke) conceived' theiia'ppyridoa yesterNew Zealand : being qfficially represented at the South-Polo when Sir Ernest Shackletoh reaches' 'that remote spot in the course of Ms long and hazardous tramp' across, Antarctica.. This, he 'cbn'ceived,-might take'the form of a New .Zealand'-flag to'be flown at the Pole'•byi.-Mr. Hurley, and then brought, baok is a.memento for tho'city:qf Wellington as an note. So W.small..flag'Vbearing. on its deep blue •che^'whito' , stars of the Southern Cross Vas secured,' the members of .the coun-' cil were; hastily,,called..together, and the presentation was made to 'Mr. Hurly- at ' i o'clock yesterday afternoon.-: '-.The , Mayor,.■in liiaking.the presentation,, said: that -they. \vero : .met 'to show 'their "esteem f0r,... their .-'visitor,' .. Mr. Frank and to 'present to him, on<bolialf-bf the citizens of .Wellington,'| the flag of New" Zealand,,.wMclr was in-■•■ tended should be - flown '-'afetlie South Pole as a boud.of affection and good fellowship/between the members' ;6f the Expedition and New Zealand;'.;-. .'"' Other, councillors also spoke. ■-',. . \ In response, Mr.- Hurley-.saiu'.that he felt deeply honoured' at receiving the Dominion's flag from the citizens :of Wellington, fie was to be one of the six to attempt to cross the Great : White Ckintinent with Sir Ernest: Shackleton, and he hoped that the >flag they had Riven him, together with .that'of the Commonwealth, .would ny.-;.together. with the grand old flag which had for.so long braved the battle and-'the .breeze, fle had made arrangements to ; carry a cinema outfit—a very light _ maclime— right across tho continent, injofder to make, if possible, a complete pictorial record of- the journey.-which would be of some historical value, and he understood that already arrangements .had been made for a copy .to-be';.lodged. m the British Museum. Mr.-, Hurley expressed with gratitude thanks for tho hospitality which had Keen'heaped upon him in Wellington, aiid for the fla<r the city had presented. He,hb,ped:to fly it at the Pole, and bring it/baok, so that they could all see it once. more. (Applause.) i. •.' ; : ' ' The Mayor then/proposed the health of Mr. Hurley, which was drunk with musical honours, and the gathering ended with the , singing of the National Anthem. . • . .- . ;