ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 6 December 1901, Page 4

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

The National Antat'otic Expedition was organised by the Royal Geographical Sjciety, the funds being raised by private subscription, aided by a grant of £45,000 from the Imperial Government. Tne Discovery was specially designed for the purpose of navigation anion?? the Southern ice, and was built of oak by the Dundee Shipbuilding Company. Nothing was left undone in her construction that the experience of previous Arctic and Antarctic voyages could suggest. As regards hor scientific equipment, it is the most complete over gathered together in one ship, and the fact that the instruments were provided by the admiralty is guarantee that they are of the very best and most perfect nature. The officers, scientific staff, and crew ha?e all been chosen with equal care. They amount in all to fifty souls—four naval officers, four scientific civilians, two officers of the R.N.R., two surgeons, 24 naval seamen, two Royal marines, and sjven merchant seamen. The commander, Commander R. F. Scott, 8.N., is a naval officer of great promise, and, in the recent annual address to the Royal Geographical Society, Sir Clements Markham, President, pays a very high tribute to his ability. His second in command is Lieut. Albert S. Armitage, R.N.R, (of the P. and O. Line), who has had much Arctic experience and long training in sledge travelling, having been a member of the JacksonvHarmsworth expedition To that expeidtion, also, belonged the surgeon, Dr Reginald Koettlits; while tho assistant surgeon, Dr Edward Wilson, is in addition an excellent artist. The scientific director of the expedition is Dr George Murray, D. Sc , F.R.S-, Director of the Botanical Department of tbe British Museum, He, however, will only accompany the expedition as far as Australia or New Zealand, but will direct the operations of tho scientific staff during the passage out, aud will got everything connected with their departments into thoroughly good Working order. Tho other members of the civilian staff are the biologist, Mr J. V. Hodgson (who has been for a cruise in the Michael Sars with Dr Hjort), the physicist. Mr Louis C. Bernacehi, and the geologist, Mr H. T. Ferrer.

A rather sensational cable message which reached us about the end of October stated that the President of Royal Geographical Society was appealing to the public to subscribe for the equipment of a tender to the Discovery, and adding that the latter vessel was a poor sailer and leaky, and that her coal consumption had proved excessive. This statement regarding a ship specially built for work among the ico was startling, and probably the President's remarks were misunderstood. At any rate, the Cape papers which report the arrival of the vessel di not bear out the statement, but assert that on the pasout the Discovery had proved herself a magnificent sea boa*, and that all the officers and crew were unanimous in her praises.