MEMBERS OF MAWSON EXPEDITION

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1930, Page 7

MEMBERS OF MAWSON EXPEDITION

SUCCESS OK THE VENTURE

AUCKLAND, April 1-5

Back from the; pack ico and the rigours of the t'ro/.en south, Messrs it. A. Kalla (son of Mr and Mrs G. Falla, formerly of Hokitika) now of Auckland, and U. G. Simmers, of Wellington ,two New Zealanders chosen to accompany tin l Mawson Antarctic Expedition, are impressed with the success of the venture. They returned to Auckland by the Ulimaroa from Sydney tins morning, and had an interesting st'Tv to tell of the bird life and (tin eenditi'ois that obtain on the new-l"-discovered M‘Robertson Land, named aft«r Air M’Pherson Robertson, of ’ "si ,; n_ who made a donation o’f ,v ) towards the cost of the expe-

dition. “The e-oodlfD'o was very successful, 1 : ’i- n f .’T''n V ed what it set out to do,” df'pinred A 1 ’• Doßn, who was ornithoFMst on the Discovery. ‘‘The sclentiflo x* r ic?d out was principally confined to oceanographic research and investigations of this description were mnAo over the whole course of the Dis-nr.-prv from Capetown to Adelaide. We sailed from Capetown in October last and worked 3500 miles to tbe west of Admiral Byrd in the sector lying so-’th between South Africa and Australia, Twelve thousand miles were covered b ythe expedition, and this included 2000 miles of tracking among or near the pack ioe. Spring and autumn work was done’ in the groups of sub-antarctic islands lying south of tbe Indian Ocean—the Crozets, Kerguel'an, and Herd Islands. 1 “Bird life in the sub-antarctic is rich and varied,” .said Mr Kalla, “and in-nnnr-rable penguins and petrels wereto be seen. There is a small range of bird life in the Antarctic itself, the birds deriving their food entirely from the sea. There is also a fine whaling area just off Enderby Land, which was approached from the east by the- Norwegians for tbe first time this season.”

Mr Simmers, who was meteorologist with tbe expedition, and is attached to the Meteorological Department in Wellington, stated that ’observations were made such as would be carried out in a first-class observatory. Special instruments were necessary to counteract tbe rolling of tbe shin, and the Dicoovory knew bow to roll. Tbe weather in the Antarctic bn the whole was surprisingly good. December was a most unfavourable month, strong winds, heavv snow, and poor visibility being experienced. January was an excellent month, and counter-balanced any disadvantages that attended the weather of the latter part of the year.