The Polar Regions.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 67, 19 November 1913, Page 5

The Polar Regions.

AMUNDSEN AND MAWSON, EQUIPPING THE FRAM. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] Times—Sydney Sun Special Cables. (Received 8 a.m.) London, November 17. Captain Amundsen has completed his crew of fourteen besides the scientific staff. He is equipping with seven years’ provisions, sailing from San Francisco in June and entering ice drift in September. The cost of equipping the Eram was £33,000, half of which has already been received. Captain Amundsen hopes to provide the balance out of the earnings of his lectures and the sale of postcards, photographs, and stamps. The lectures were not the financial success anticipated. ANTARCTIC RESEARCH. Sydney, November 18. Dr. Douglas Mawson, leader of the Australian Antarctic Expedition, has sent a wireless telegraph message from Adelie Land, stating that the first penguins of the season arrived on October 17. At the end of September the party killed a large sea-leo-pard which landed immediately in front of the house in a heavy southerly swell. 4 here were indications, on October 10, that the icepack outside the bay had broken up. In Commonwealth Bay an unfrozen winter was experienced. There were unusually heavy falls of snow in the spring. The party is only now beginning to recover stores which were buried by huge masses of snow. This has caused some inconvenience. Dr. Mawson has been able to send time signals to the Melbourne Observatory, which have enabled the longitude, to he obtained very exactly. He has also made an Auroral observation, and nas secured valuable information regarding the Aurora Australis. All members of the party are well, hut are anxious to return.

Dr. Mawson has wirelessed his deepest thanks to Sir Robert Lucas for a second gift of £IOOO, which comes at n time when the expedition is in the greatest need. Dr. Mawson explained that this months silence was due to the wireless installation being much impeded by the Antarctic Aurora, a fact quite new to science.

A SHAGKLETON MEMOIR.

DAILY WEATHER REPORTS.

(Received 9.29 p.m.) Svdney, * November 19

Professor David departs for England on Saturday with the object of arranging for the publication of the geological memoir of the Shackleton Antarctic Expedition. The Aurora departs from Hobart for Antarctica to-day, and takes a meteorologist, two wireless operators, and a man for the permanent wireless and weather stations. The Federal Government has undertaken to maintain' the station, having in view the great value of daily weather data sent hy wireless to Melbourne. it is considered probable that Adeo'.ide will be the Aurora’s first port of call on returning from Antarctica.