FROM DOWN SOUTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 948, 15 April 1930, Page 9

FROM DOWN SOUTH

NEW ZEALANDERS WITH MAWSON RETURNED TODAY “The object of the expedition was to survey and link up the unknown coast land of the Antarctic between Enderby and Kemp Land and Queen Mary Land and also confirm the British claim to Enderby and Kemp Land,” said Mr. R. A. Falla, a member of the Sir Douglas Mawson Antarctic Expedition. Mr. Falla, who is a member of the teaching staff of the Auckland Trainiug College, returned by the Ulim&roa this morning. He was accompanied by Mr. R. G. Simmers, another New Zealander who accompanied the expedition as meteorologist. Mr. Simmers is a member of the Government meteorological staff at Wellington. Though many expeditions have been south since Captain Scott led the way 30 years ago, an enormous extent of the coastline still remains undiscovered. Of the utmost importance in this unexpected section was the oceanographical work of the party, which included a study of the depths, temperature, currents, life and composition of the sea. Meteorology was also an important field of study, together with an examination of ice formations and various climatic factors, believed by many to have «l direct bearing on our New Zeeland climate. A study of the whales, their habits and locations, together with examinations of bird and fish life were also important departments of the expedition's work, said Mr. Falla. The British-Australian-New Zealand Antarctic Expedition, to give its correct title, worked further to the westward than Byrd, said Mr. Falla. Jt has in a sector between South Africa and Australia. That part of the Antarctic known as Euderbv and Kemp Lafid had only been sighted by whalers, and that was in IS2O. The expedition having formally taken possession of the territory, surveyed its way toward Queen Mary Land through practically an unknown area. “We charted 500 miles of coastline and sketched 200 miles,” said Mr. Falla. "We did not get, as far as Queen Mary Land as the ice stopped us.’*

USE OF SEAPLANE Our track covered 12.000 miles between Captown and Adelaide. We were on the move most of the time as the principal part of our scientific work covered oceanographical work. Of that distance about 2,000 miles were done in or about the ice paek. In the spring and autumn land work was done among the islands south of the Indian Ocean, Crozet, Kerguelen and Heard Islands being visited. The inland work, such as ascertaining the extent and direction of the mountain ranges, was carried out by seaplane. A Gypsy Moth was used for this work and two pilots from the Australian Air Force accompanied the expedition. Both Mr. Simmers and Mr. Falla spoke in enthusiastic terms of the work done under very difficult conditions by the plane. The plane had a flying range of 400 miles (approximately four hours) from the ship, and although the ice sometimes caused considerable damage to the wings, great work was done by the airmen, in carrying out the aerial surveys.

The expedition did not carry out a great deal of land work, as the coastline was of a very inhospitable nature. This was never intended and the necessary equipment for it was not carried on the vessel. NEW LAND NAMED Mr. Falla accompanied the party as geologist and ornithologist. He found that bird life was a rich and varied feature of the sub-Antarctic and Arctic area, and a very fruitful field of study. An interesting feature of the bird life was that the birds lived practically on the same food as the whales. They also discovered a very good whaling area near Enderby and Kemp Land. It was an area that had not yet been worked, although the Norwegians were now working up toward it. A new tract of land was also discovered to the east of Enderby ?ind Kemp Land, and this was formally claimed, being named Macßobertson Land, after Mr. McPherson Robertson, of Melbourne, who donated £IO,OOO toward the cost of the expedition. Mr. Simmers stated that the Discovery was fitted out with a very complete meteorological outfit, specially designed for shipboard work, and the work was particularly interesting. He stated that the weather on the whole was quite good, although while they were in the ice in December, strong winds and snowstorms were experienced.

Both members of the expedition are satisfied that the results are very successful. “The expedition accomplished what it set out to do,” they said, “and has returned with a vast amount of new material which should throw new light on the many scientific problems involved.’