TO THE SOUTH POLE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1925, Page 1

TO THE SOUTH POLE

CAPTAIN AVI I, KINS’ PLANS

FLIGHT EARLY NEX T YEAR. SYDNEY. May “1

There is perlmpu no more advcntureioving man in tin* world, and certainly none in Australia, than Captain G. H. Wilkins, wlm at various times of his still yomy life lias heen explorer.of Lhe Antarctic ami the uncivilised portions of Australia, ollicial war photographer, naturalist, aviator, and Jtalf a dozen other kinds of adventurer. During tho last two years Captain Wilkins has been engaged in collecting rare specimens ol Australian fauna and flora for the British Museum, and tin's quest- has led him to the out-of-wa,v corners of this continent, especially in the far north. On Otto or two occasions lie lias heen reported missing, hut has always turned up smiling just in time to prevent him reading his own obit nary notices. Now. as soon as lie returns to civilisation he announces plans for a dash to the Smith Bole by aeroplane, to bo. commenced, unless unforeseen delay occurs. in January next, as a preliminary to a big international scheme for mctonrolgical development. These plans were outlined by Captain Wilkins at Brisbane this week'. Tt was bis intention, he said, to take two aeroplanes to the Antarctic coast directly -cmth of Now Zealand, and lly across the base of the Pacific to Graham’s Land. The distance was about 1500 miles. He hoped to discover a whaling base of equal value to those of Boss Sea and Graham’s Land, and to gather information of economical value lie estimated that the journey of 1500 mill's could be done in a day by aeroplane, whereas if it bad to be traversed on foot it would take three years. Records collected in the preliminary flight would enable a plan to bo proceeded with lor a huge international meteorological system. There would be seven \ ntan tic and live sub-Antarctic stations which would be supplied with information from three specially designed and fitted ships, and the stations would send daily records by wireless to collecting points at Cure Town, Melbourne and Buenos Ayres, liccurils then would he (laslicd to London, to he collated daily with other meteorological observations. Prom records obtained over a period of ten years. Captain Wilkins said, seasonal conditions throughout the Southern Hemisphere Jbuid bo forecast for several years ahead. r I he estimated i ost of the international bureau for ten years would he about £2.000,000. but when this was proportionately divided among the countries concerned. It would mean that the Australian States and New Zealand would not need to spend .more than £-1000 a year to maintain their share of the work.

Contenting his just-concluded trip. Captain Wilkins said that the most exciting incident of it was to find himself one night surrounded by a party of blacks, who, with raised spears were staring at him reclining in his bunk. A numljer of blacks had deserted from his camp, and on two occasions they stealthily returned and crawled near his mosquioto net with spears raised in a throwing attitude. He tested a theory 0 f bis that the blacks would not attack an unaggressive white man. pretended to he asleep- and the blocks went away. Next morning they again surrounded him. but this time he spoke t 0 them, and dropping their spears, thev ran. He followed them, persuaded ' them that he was friendly, and thereafter they became agreeable companions. Truly a remarkable man is Captain Wilkins.