THE POLAR QUEST

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 37, 7 November 1919, Page 6

THE POLAR QUEST

COPti EXPEDITION TO THE ANTARCTIC

MR. ERNEST MILLS JOYCE INTERVIEWED Among the arrivals from Sydney by tho Mooraki was Mr. Ernest Mills Joyce, a name well known in New Zealand as one of that; gallant band of Antarctic explorers, to whom the lure of tho southern polar regions is irresistible, mul who is to be second in command of the Terra Nova (790 tons), which is to convey the Cope expedition to the icy regions of the south. Mr. Joyce, who was a member of the Scott: expedition of 1901-1, and. the Shackleton expeditious of 1807-a and 1911-17, said that lie had lor over txvo years been mine-managing in Australia. Ho had tried to get away to the war, like all good Antarctic men, but had been counted out owing to his eyesight, which had suffered through a severe mttack of snow blindness experience;! during the distressing time he, with others, had experienced when cast away on Boss Island, with the "left-wing" of the hist Shackleton expedition, lie was now on his way to London, and -.vcHild leave by the lonic this month lo help in the fitting out of the Terra Nova. It was hoped that the vessel! would leavo England for New Zealand about June' next, and after stocking supplies'in Wei- i lington, would leave fur the south about November of next year. There were lo be 58 members in the party, but so far its personnel was unknown to him, with, the exception of Dr. Cope, 8.A., Cantab., F.K.G.S., who was biologist and siirgeon with the 1914-17 Shackleton expedition. The objects of' the British Imperial Antarctic (Cope) Expedition were as follow:— 1. To ascertain tho position and extent of the mineral and other deposits of economic va-'.ue already known to exist iu Antarctica, and obtain data for the. practical development as a further source of Imperial wealth. 2. To obtain furthbr evidence of the localities and migrations of whales of economic value, and to create British industries in this trade. 3 To the meteorological'and magnetic, conditions in the lioss Sea area ;ii"! at Cup; l Ami (Eirlerby Land) in connection with their influence in similar conditions in Australasia' and South Africa respectively. That such results are of great economic value, had been proved by the station established by the Argentine Government for similar purposes ill the 'South Orkneys. LTo circumnavigate the Antarctic Continent. 5. To generally extend our knowledge of Antarctica, espi#'ially with the view to obtaining further scientific data of economic importance. It is proposed that the Terra Nova would leave England cit tJie end of June for Wellington, proceed to Macquarie Island in October for the purposes of a geological suryev, and then proceed on to Scott Island, and there establish awireless and meteorological station. The vessel will then steam southward for the ,l?oss Sea, and seek a suitable harbour in the Western 'Mountains somewhere in the foot-h'il.s between Granite and New Harbours. It is expected that New Harbour will be the most suitable point at which headquarters can be established. That liosilion having been found, parties would be landed, and a large tent would bo erected M'rom which the work of erect'ne the huts, landing provisions, scientific equipment, dogs, etc., may be conducted! The main base having been established the ship would proceed to Cape Crozier (Boss Island),' where a smal?. hut with provisions and equipment would be landed, and from there a party would set out on the Barrier. Tli'fi parly at Cape Ciw.ie.r would lie manned mid equipped to study the Emperor penguin and the Antarctic winter at this point, a research commenced by the late Captain Scott, but never completed. Tho party proceeding across the Barrier sur-' face would reach a point as far direct south as -practicable, and having carried materials for erecting a specially-designed lint, would establish a ciunp' in order to record the Antarctic winter on the Barrier surface,. That parly would veturn to the Cape Crozier base in tlifc following summer, where tliey would, with the Cape Crozior party, be nicked lip by tho ship on her return, and landed at New HatrbouV.

Faying landed the Cape Crozier and Barrier parties at Cane Cro:',ier, the ship would return to Wellington and take 011 coal and provisions for a four-years' commission. Then she would return, and pick up the Cape Crazier and Barrier parlies, and return witli them to headquarters. In the meantime, parties would have set out from headquarters on tho

""oloirical exploration of the Western Mountains for mineral deposits. Those nt headquarters would continue their scientific work, special attention being given to tho_ jtudy of meteorological conditions relating to tho higher atmosphere. The ship would prepare as soon as possible to leave headquarters on a eirenmnavigatory trip of the Antarctic continent. Both the ship and the base at New Harbour' would have wireless in T Btnllations.

During this voyage—one that lias never, yet been attempted—complete and regular meteorological, geographical, geological, oceahographical and photographic records would bo kept. The Terra Nova, it was intended, would leave New_ Harbour, and proceed along the coastline as at present known as far as Cape Ann, where she would winter. , That position was, practically, speaking, unexplored territory, and besides carrying out geographical and minerological survey work, special attention, would be given to meteorological conditions in the hope that they .may Ik> correlated with South Africa, 111 precisely the snme way as the meteorological conditions in the South' Shetlands have been of economic value to, the Argentine Government. From thence, in the following summer, the ship would proceed to the Weddell Sea, off Coat's Land, but she would not attempt to push her way across the Weddell Sea to the east coast of ■ Graham Land unless exceptionally favourable conditions prevail. She would winter at the South Shetlands. A supply of coal and provisions would be arranged for by the expedition to be at one of these islands (probably Deception Island). There the full course of scientific work would be continued, and special attention would be given to mir-erology and the whaling industry. The latter economic factor is to receive great attention throughout the voyage. The following summer the Terra Nova would continue its circinnn-iivigatory voyage and endeavour tn discover the exact tectonic linnls of Charcot Land and of King Edward VII Land, .finally making round this course to New Harbour, Thence the expedition would return to Wellington after picking up lhe melt at Scott Island. An aeroplane would form part of the expedition*'! enuipnient, and a (light to the South Pole was contemplated.,

■U'r. H. r. lineman, V.P.S.TC.. AleWnlogist lo the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, and to tlii> Ai'irontint* Government. Ie In aecoinnany Dr. .T. I;. Cope, as chiof of tho scientific slalT.