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Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 973, 30 March 1911, Page 2

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TERRA NOVA AT STEWART ISLAND. A TEMPESTUOUS VOYAGE. SLEDGE JOURNEY STARTED. The Terra Nova arrived at Patterson’s Inlet, Stewart Island, on Monday evening. The first portion of the official report supplied by Captain Scott states that three days out from New Zealand the ship, deeply laden, encountered Ja heavy south-westerly gale, and shipped much water. Part of the bulwarks were washed away. The vessel subsequently entered a pack of ice, and on December 9, in latitude 65, encountered phenomenally heavy ice. Twenty-two days were spent in pushing through. After forcing a way through the pack they found McMnrdo Sound exceptionally open and decided to make winter quarters at Cape Evans, fourteen miles north of Cape Boyds. The party has already obtained rich biological collections. The weather was very changeable and strong winds blew, causing considerable difficulty in keeping the ; ship anchored in the ice. Once she was driven on shore, but re-floated without damage. The party is now departing from the depot on the sledge journey south, with twelve men, eight pouies and two dog teams. They expect to be cut off from h Evans for two months, and holpe.| to return over new ice early in :■ April. I J THR ICE BARRIER. ' q On 25th January the ship pro- . ceeded east, surveying the ice barrier to 170 degrees west. The barrier to this point appears to be changed little since the 1902 expedition. A south-easterly gale forced us ahead to Cape Colbeck, arriving thereon the 2nd February,’ when a heavy pack stopped progress east. j A high ice cliff prevented tlFeastern party lauding in Cape Col beck vicinity, so they returns’ along the barrier searching for £ landing, but no place was fouwL possible until the Bay of Whak was reached. The bight ha broken away entirely and mergt into the Bay of Whales, wHi—was arrived at on the 4th b ' February, the Fram is wintering*here with eight men and ixt Greenland dogs and a full equipment for the journey to the Pole.;* A hut has been erected at; 'T stores landed two miles from the. ship. Reports slate that the health of the party is excellent. ", ‘ MCMURDO SOUND DEPOT. The Fram is proceeding to Buenos Ayres and is returning the! following season. ; - The Terra Nova left for Met. Murdo Sound and found a messagG irom the Discovery. At the depot - all was well, and the vessel pro- ' ceeded north and encountered a heavy southerly gale off Cape Adare. It was blown over one hundred miles north, and mac land east of Smith’s Inlet. The party followed the coast a distauce of two miles to Robert son’s Bay. Lauding was found to be impossible owing to the precipitous and heavily glaciated coast. A MOUNTAINOUS REGION. The eastern party is wintering at Cape Adare. The Terra Nova proceeded to explore the east of Cape North, finding no pack south of Bellamy lands. In latitude 6S, longitude 40, it encountered strong winds, till the 22nd of February, when a mountainous land was discovered. Hampered by cloudy and foggy weather, the vessel was forced away from land, but the coast line was found again at lat. 69.20 long. 159 east, on the 25th February. The party was unable to approach nearer than twelve miles, as it was caught in an exceptionally heavy pack, but was released next day by the wind shifting. the rugged coast. The coast line was followed northwest for thirty miles, but the party was unable to approach closer than ten miles owing to the pack. The whole of the coast is hilly and rugged, with numerous glaciers. The higher land is mostly obscured owing to low clouds. The ship was prevented getting further west than 68.30 longitude and 15.15 east, and was forced eastward, skirting the pack till in the vicinity of Balleuy’s. Progress was frequently stopped by the pack —once for three days" —but she cleared the pack on the Bth March. Interesting soundings were takeu, and the biologist obtained excellent trawls in 200 fathoms of water. The health ot the party is excellent.