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Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1932, Page 4

An interesting address was recently giyen in Christchurch by Mr R. G; Simmers M.Sci) of his -work amE experiences wiih the : &rUUh«AußtrAlinn* New Zealand Research Expedition of 1929-31 s led by Sir Douglas Muwson. The leader of the expedition first accompanied Shaekleton on one of his expeditions, and at the/'early age of 27 led the first party of his own to the Antarctic. Sir Douglas Mawson was unsurpassed as a leader, and had the-real physique of an explorer-, combined with high scientific attainments, immense capacity for work, and invariable good humour. The Antarctic plateau, said the lecturer, was an elevated continent, second only in height to Tibet. The ice covering had the size of Australia and Europe combined 1 , but the bare land was no larger in area than Tasmania. The Ross barrier consisted of a huge sheet of ice, estimated as at least ICOO feet in thickness, and meeting the sea in a cliff varying in height from 15 to 150 feet. The barrier under the pressure of its own weight was advancing at the rate of about one mile a year, the brtaldng-dff of icebergs keeping < its northern edge approximately in a constant position. The Discovery had a compjldment of twelve scientists and 28 officers and crew. The scientists, of whom one was from England, two from New Zealand, and the remainder from Australia, comprised zoologists, a chemist, two- aviators, a photographer, a meteorologist, and the leader, wlio> was the geologist. The main work was a systematic and detailed examination of the sea itself and all marine life. The geographical details cf the sub-Antarctic islands and later the various different ice formations were referred to briefly. Tne temperatures were cold, he said, b\it not unduly so, for the -most : part surprisingly constant for long periods. Cold without wind was' no great hardship, but a temperature of only 30 degrees Fahrenheit was definitely dangerous in a blizzard, and it was this combination that made the Antarctic climate so rigorous. Antarctica was the greatest desert in the world—a desert of ice. Few things grew there, the vegetable world being almost unrepresented. The only land animals were -a few mites and wingless insects, there being no animals sm’ as Polar bears, reindeer, or foxes. In the Antarctic seas, however, in contrast to the. land, there was a wealth rf life—marine life more- abundant than anywhere else in the world. This life ranged from the jr '‘•roser'i’ 0 plankton up to birds, seals, and wholes. After dealing in detail with all the diverging aspects of life r"c! science studied bv the expedition, the speaker summarised the attainments of the voyge by stating thH the geographical results alone were of great importance. Tin' scientific results were.not yet sufficiently readv for publication, 'nit- they should add sti'U moro to tins importance.