SOUTH AGAIN

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 280, 20 August 1921, Page 8

SOUTH AGAIN

>. SHACKLETON’S NEW EXPEDITION additional particulars UNCHARTED SEAS AND LOST ISLANDS A cablegram published a few weeks ago stated that Sir Ernest Shackleton would leave England in August on a new expedition to the South Polar regions. The famous explorer proposed, also, to visit certain obscure islands, and attempted to solve some geographical problems. A full statement of big plans was published, by the London "Daily Mail” at the end of June. It discloses tho fact that Sir Ernest Shackleton is accompanied by some old comrades whose names are well known in New Zealand, including Captain Frank Wild, C.8.E., Captain Frank Worsley, D. 5.0., and Lieutenant-Commander J. R. Stenhouse, D.S.O, His ship, the Quest, is a little craft of some 2CO tons net. The Quest will sail from the Port of London, and, faring southward, will cany out a full hydrographical survey, sounding the depth of the ocean, touching as she goes various oceanic islands, some but little known, others not at all (says the "Daily Mail’’). The animal end bird life of these islands and the marine life adjacent to their shores will be Investigated by the zoologist and biologist of the expedition, their geological structure by the geologist, while tho magneticinn will take the necessary observations, and the kinema, and still camera will record every phase of tha work.

To aid tho navigators and surveyors a specially-constructed seaplane is to be carried by the expedition, and from tho moment the Quest leaves England the charting of the air currents will be undertaken, just as the ocean currents are charted. From London the Quest will make for the Salvages, near Madeira, and thence . for St. Paul’s Rocks, a .little-known island on the Equator, and so to Trinidad-, where Sir Ernest Shackleton landed from Captain Scott’s ship, Discovery in 1901, and saw a great petrified forest which tho present expedition proposes to explore. Tristan da Cunha, the lonely islet in the Atlantic where letters are delivered once in three years, will bo visited, and also Gough Island, eight miles long, 4000 ft. high, rising in midocean from the Atlantic. This island has been yisited by only ono scientific expedition. Some members of the Bruce Expedition in 1904 went shore for a few hours, and in that time observed four hitherto unknown species of birds. Soundings will be taken on the ocean plateau about Gough Island to prove or disprove any surmises regarding an un-der-water continental connection, between Africa and America. From Gough Island tho Quest will swing eastward to the Capo of Good Hope, and at Cape Town make ready for the stormiest and most dangerous portion of her voyage—the exploration of the Antarctic south of the Cape. Tho recent explorations of the late Captain Scott, Sir Ernest Shackleton- and Sir Douglas Mawson have widened our knowledge of the great Antarctic continent, both south of New Zealand and south of South America; but it is about 90 years since any keel has been in the ice-laden waters south of South Africa. All that is known of these unvisited tracts is one small land-mass, Endorby Land, which may bo part of the great Antarctic continent or may be an island.

' Tho limits of the continent here are unknown for a distance of over 3000 miles. New seas may be found or new gulfs may indent the unknown coast. Here lies in great part the mystery of the cruise of the Quest; for it is not known whether an ice-bound . coast will bar the voyagers from achieving a very high latitude; whether great active volcanoes will rise above the horizon ns the ship works south; or whether Sir .Ernest Shackleton and his companions will sail into open southern seas after the combat with the driving pack-ice. When” the Quest emerges from the Antarctic near the Weddell Sea she moves north to tlie South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia, surveying and searching for suitable harbours for whaling stations. Then, after refitting at South Georgia, her bows will turn east once more, and as she runs het easting down landings will be made on various rarely seen and little known sub-Antarctic oceanic islands, such as Bouvet Island and Heard Island. Some of these islands may still harbour the southern fur seal, which has disappeared from the better known islands owing to wanton slaughter nearly, a hundred years ago. In due time the Quest will reach New Zealand, whence she will work into the Pacific, and a search will b'je made by dredging and sounding for the lost island of Tuanaki, which is mentioned in ■missionary records and native legend and old nautical epitomes, but since has apparently disappeared from view. Then, faring south once more, the expedition goes to search for Dougherty Island, whoso existence and position are doubtful. If discovered to have an accessible landing-place, it will make an oceanic station for wireless relay between New Zealand and South America, end would also serve as a reporting station ns to the ice conditions for ships engaged in voyages on this route. On then to Capo Horn and home by the Atlantic is the last stage in the long and varied voyage.