HOW IT WAS MOOTED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8352, 12 February 1913, Page 8

HOW IT WAS MOOTED

SCOTT'S PURSUIT OF THE POLE. Captain Scott visited Wellington during the last week of October, 1910, on his way to the South Pole. Sir Ernest Shackleton (then Lieutenant) had in April, 1909, at a luncheon tendered him at the Grand Motel by the New Zealand Ministry, paid a generous tribute to Scott in these words: "But for the work of Captain Scott, of the Discovery, they would not have been able to advance so far. All those who had worked with him had been actuated with but one desire —to help forward the success of the expedition, and but for the co-operation of the whole of the fifteen of the shore party and the twenty-two men on the ship, they would not havo been able to achieve as much as they had done." START OF" THE PROJECT. In was in September, 1909, that Captain Scott announced his intention to lead an expedition which would have as its main object the planting of tho Union Jack at the South Pole. He appealed for £40,000 to finance the venture. A meeting was called on October 12th at the Mansion House in support of the adventure, the .Lord Mayor presiding, Lord Strathcona, Kir Clements Markham, Sir Conan Doyle, the Agents-General, for the colonies, and other distinguished persons being present. A resolution was passed promising support to the expedition, one speaker adding that he would be glad to give £IOOO. It was announced in January, 1910, that Captain Scott had been granted £20,000 by the British Government in aid of his expedition,, and this grant, together with the subscriptions, left only £BOOO or £9OOO to be_raised. The New Zealand Government contributed £IOOO, the Australian Government £2500, tho South African Government £SOO, and Mi* Samuel Hordern (Sydney) gave £2500. FAREWELL TO SCOTT. On May 31st the Royal Geographical Society gave a luncheon to Captain Scott and his officers. The captain referred with pride to the Australians, New Zealanders, and other colonials associated with the expedi-\ tion, and claimed that he had tried to make it an Empire expedition. In June the Terra Nova, sailing under the White Ensign, left Cardiff for Madeira and Capetown, Lieutenant Evans, R.N., being in command. Many ships in' the river were dressed with flags, and steamers' sirens sounded a farewell salute to the Terra Nova. Queen Alexandra, at Buckingham Palace, presented Captain Scott with a flag to plant on the furthest point south reached by the expedition. On July 6th King George granted an audience to the gallant captain, and eleven days later he sailed from Southampton to New Zealand. Sir Ernest Shackleton, Admiral Beaumont, Lieutenant Filchner, and others were at Waterloo to bid him farewell. HIS PLANS. Captain Scott, speaking before the Royal Institution, described his plans. At the outset he warned those who were interested in the subject that circumstances might upset some, if not all, his calculations, and the results of the expedition might be very different from those which he foreshadowed. He had arranged for a scientific staff larger than that carried by any preceding expedition and for the carriage of a very extensive outfit of scientific instruments. PENETRATING THE ICE. Hitherto Antarotic expeditions had sailed to the south in the latter part of December, but with a large ship like the Terra Nova it was hoped to penetrate the pack ice at an earlier date than it had been possible for previous expeditions to do that, and accordingly they would leave New Zealand towards the end of November, and probably reach MacMurdo Sound about the end of December. Immediately on arrival in MacMurdo Sound the hut, provisions and equipment of the western . party would be lauded. The party would consist of from '22 to 25 persons, and as soon as the winter station had been thoroughly established, the greater number of these would proceed to the south to lay depots. He hoped that it would be possible to start this party off not later than the third week in J anuary when sixty or seventy days would remain for travelling. At the same time, the tthip would leave MacMurcto Soiind and proceed to' the eastward to explore King Edward's Land. A. small eastern party, if left, would be left with full supplies and some transport facilities. If this party were safely landed, he would endeavour to give them some connection with the western party—4oo miles to the westward—by landing additional stores at one or two places on the barrier edge, if such places could be found. After landing the eastern party the ship would return to MacMurdo Sound, and then proceed to the northward. He was hopeful that at the latest this would be in about the third week in February, and that a considerable supply of coal would still remain in the ship. It that were sa, she would be directed to investigate the pack in the region of the Balleny Islands, and to proceed to the westward or to the south of those islands. These objects would occupy the ship during the month of March, after which she would be directed to return to New Zealand. The western party, he hoped, would by the month of April be safely established in the hut, with suitable depots laid well south of the barrier. During the winter preparations would bo made for a great ett'ort to reach the South Pole in the followina season. A CLEAR PATH. At the civic reception given to him in Wellington, Captain Scott said that on approaching New Zealand he had had a feeling which he had only experienced on approaching the shores of England from former voyages. It was the feeling that he was coming to a home. It sprang from the time when he was here ten years ago. He came a stranger, and left on his voyage South feeling that he had left behind friends in every part of the country. This feeling was no small thing to a man engaged in such a venture. Sir E. Shackleton had performed one of tho most brilliant feats in polar regions, and he received his first welcome in New Zealand. After that expedition there was a clear path left to the pole, and he (Captain Scott) saw what a dainty morsel it would be for other nations. He saw that if Britain did not announce another expedition soroo other country would. He had then set to work to organise a party, and one by one others had come forward to support him. For the knowledge .xe-..

quired for the occasion, and above all for the spirit required, he believed the members of the present expedition had never been surpassed. JOURNEY TO THE POLE. The journey towards the Pole would, said Captain Scott, be in three sections: (l) Across the Lower Plateau; (2) up the Great Beardmore Glacier; an" 3 (3) ac'toss the Upper Plateau. He hoped, with the aid of ponies, dogs, and motor sledges, to get sixteen men over, the Lower Plateau and up the glacier; At the foot of the glacier he might possibly be in the same position as Shiiekleton had been—without motor sledge. ; dogs, or ponies—except that he wou'd have sixteen men instead of Shackleton's four. These sixteen men would then be worked in relays, twelve men going ahead, four would be sent back at the end of the first stage, and finally the four fittest would be entrusted to carry the British flag—4o the pole, he hoped. They cared little for possible gold mines, and were making the trip for soientifio purposes and for the honour of the Empire.