ANTARCTIC RESEARCH.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1923, Page 1

ANTARCTIC RESEARCH.

EXPEDITION OF THE DISCOVERY. LONDON, March 22. In regard to the proposed voyage of the Discovery to the. whaling fields about Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the South Shetland*, the Duke of Devonshire (Colonial Secretary) is taking steps for the appointment of an 'Executive Committed to undertake the management. It is proposed that the Colonial Office, the Admiralty, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the British Museum (Natural History), and the Royal Geographical Society should he represented upon the Executive Committee. The committee will keep in close touch with other institutions and individuals who are interested in Antarctic research. The principal task for which the Discovery will be employed, of course, will he Lo ascertain the geographical limits of the stock of whales, to trace their migrations, and to form some idea of their numbers and the rate of reproduction, hut the expedition will also afford opportunities for adding to scientific knowledge hi many other directions, and particularly in oceanography, meteorology, and magnetism.

The Discovery was specially built for the first national Antarctic Expedition under Captain Scott at a cost of £51,000. She was a wooden vessel, with frame of solid oak, and some difficulty was experienced in arranging for her construction, which was eventually undertaken by the Dundee Shipbuilding Company. The architect was Air AV. E. Smith, Chief Naval Constructor, and no pains were spared to make her ns perfect as possible for the work contemplated. Captain Scott described her as “the finest vessel which was ever built for exploring purposes.” Her registered tonnage was 485, length between perpendiculars 172 ft, and breadth 34ft. She was fitted with two cylindrical boilers arranged to work at a pressure of 150 pounds per square inch, and a set of triple expansion engines designed to give 450 indicated horse-power. A large area of the hull was kept entirely free from any magnetic metal, so that the most delicate magnetic observations could he made on board. Her keel was laid in March, 1000, and in .March, 1001, she was launched and named the Discovery by Lady Afarfcbnm, wife of Sir Clement .Markham, President of the Royal Geographical Society. She sailed from Cowes in August, 1901, and in February, 1902, took up her quarters in the Antarctic, in AlcAlurdo Sound at the western end of Ross’s Great fee Barrier. There she remained for the next two years, serving as the base for the extensive explorations which were carried out by the expedition till its return In 1901. Afterwards she was offered to the Admiralty, to he kept for .scientific exploration, hut. the offer was refused, and she was sold to the Hudson Bay Company for £IO,OOO.

It is naturally not unlikely that a number of explorers and scientists whose names are well known in connexion with former Antarctic expeditions will he applying for places on the Discovery. No appointments have yet been made, hut Commander F. A. AYorsley, D. 5.0., who knows South Georgia and the seas thereabouts so well, seems eminently suited to navigate the vessel. He will certainly be applying for a, post with the expedition.