ANXIETY AND DOUBT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8356, 17 February 1913, Page 8

ANXIETY AND DOUBT

ASCENT OF MOUNT AND SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES. The Press Association furnishes further details of the polar expedition as follow: Lieutenant Campbell left. Capo Roberts on October 80th, and marched to Butter Point, finding the surfaces very much improved. They found, and took on, the food depot at Cape Bernacchi. THE SHADOW OF DISASTER. At the Butter Point depot a note was found, telling of the attempt that Dr Atkinson had made to relieve Lieutenant Campbell. The signing of the note by Dr Atkinson gave rise to much anxiety and doubt. For this reason the party then commenced a forced march direct to Cape Evans, but after going about nine miles found the ice so new and rotten, that they were forced to return in their tracks and make the detour of McMurdo Sound. Even then some of the leads were so rotten the sledge had to be taken across at the rush. THE WORST KNOWN. Arriving at Hut- Point, a note _ was discovered from Dr Atkinson giving the sad news of the loss of the southern party, and of the start of the search party. The whole party, even to Browning, who was still unfit, expressed the keenest disappointment at being too late to take part in the search. GEOLOGICAL RESULTS AND THE ASCENT OP EREBUS. The general geological work done by the three parties—southern, western, and northern—is likely to prove of great value, especially as furnishing evidence relative to former connection between Australasia and Southern America, through an Antarctic, continent. The collections and notes made by the several parties upon Beardmore Glacier are far better than was to be expected under the conditions. This is the farthest south outcrop of rock on' the route selected. WHAT THE SOUTHERN PARTY COLLECTED. There was no geologist in the southern party, .but in spite of this collections were made with great judgment. From a height of 8000 feet fossil plants and coal were brought back, being collected from almost the same places as the coal discovered by Shackleton. The plant impressions are very well preserved in sandstones and shales,_ and probably belong to late palaeozoic or early messozoie times. Lower down the glacier another find of fossils, was made, consisting of corals of primitive form, typical of the early palaeozoic age. Numerous igneous rocks were also collected. These collections were chiefly made by Dr Wilson and Lieutenant Bowers, under adverse conditions. Their notes are necessarily not at present available, and until experts have had access to this material it is unwise to make definite 1 inferences. In general terms it may be said that there is proof of temperate conditions of climate having obtained in the Antarctic at two periods of time fir past ages. THE WESTERN PARTY. The western party, under Griffith Taylor, made two journeys to the mainland of Victoria Land for purely scientific purposes.. A detailed geological and topographical survey was made from Mount Discovery to Granite Harbour, and material gathered for a thorough description of Antarctic physiography. Ice phenomena were especially observed, and several measurements of the movements of glaciers made. In the case of the Maokay Glacier, this amounted to 80 feet for one month. At Granite Harbour coal was found in the Beacon sandstone formation. It proved to be a semi-anthra-cite of medium quality, and is probably of the same age as the coal from the Beardmore Glacier. It was practically inaccessible, and consequently of no economic value. Associated with it were fossil impressions of stems and charred Wood; also in places probably of a fresh-water crustacean. New mountains up to 9000 feet were found and surveyed. MR PRIESTLEY’S WORK. Priestley, geologist of the northern party, spent the first year making an exhaustive collection of rocks in the vicinity of Robertson Bay. Associated with the. Cape Adare volcanic, series there was found an erratic bearing agglomerate, many of the boulders being striated by ice action. A somewhat similar deposit was also amongst the rocks dredged from the Bay of Whales. During the second season the party made a journey along several glaciers between Mount Nansen and Mount Melbourne, and made valuable collections of igneous and sedimentary rocks. Fossils in the shape of large wood stems were found, and brought back. These, again, are probably referable to the Beacon sandstone, formation, and similar in age to fossils found by the other parties. They traversed and surveyed a large Piedmont glacier of the Barrier type, formed by the union of several glaciers between Mounts Nansen and Melbourne, and held in place by a group of islands. With regard to the fossils found in the south, it is important to note that Mr Lille, biologist of the ship in the past two years, has made collections in New Zealand of fossil plants which may connect with the Antarctic specimens. ASCENDING MOUNT EREBUS. In December, 1912, a party of six, under Mr Priestley, made an ascent of Mount Erebus for geological purposes. Good weather but low temperatures (30 below zero at the summit) were experienced. A different route to that of Professor David was followed, and the old crater visited, the altitude of the lip being 10,000 feet. The sledges were hauled to a height of 9500 feet before packing became necessary. A detailed survey of the whole mountain, except the sea side, was made. At a height of 10,000 feet two of the party were overcome by mountain sickness, and were left to continue the survey of the old crater. The other four reached the summit, and built a stone cairn as a record. A strong wind prevented the hypsometer being used for altitude. Lieutenant Gran, ascending the final slope after the others had left, was caught in the fumes of a mild eruption, and was partially suffocated, but managed to get clear by himself. ■ OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES. A detailed geological survey of Ross Island, from Capo Armitage to Cape Royds, has been made, and affords evidence of greater age of volcanic deposits than formerly supposed. Observations throughout the year were made on the physical conditions of ice in all its forms by Mr Wright. He was also responsible for all the meteorological observations, magnetic measurements, and study of atmospheric electricity. His time was much occupied with pendulum observations

for gravity.' This general hydrographic work was carried out by Nelson, who also built another igloo for the plantation of collections. Owing to lack_ pf sea ice, his work in this direction was necessarily limited. His first igloo on the sea ice went to sea with some of his gear. Cherry Garrard took over the preparation of all skins from seals and penguins. A new line of soundings for scientific purposes was run from Banks Peninsula to lat 60 S. long 170 W., and thence south to lat. 73 S. A shoal of 158 fathoms depth was found m the middle of Ross Sea, within a short distance of soundings of 2000 fathoms. Extensive marine biological collections were made by Lillie. It is worthy of note that the polar parties’ meteorological observations were continued to March 12th, when the thermometer was broken.