DASH TO THE SOUTH POLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 17 July 1907, Page 4

DASH TO THE SOUTH POLE.

I.IKITKXANT SHACKLETON'S .SCHEME. PKOJKUKI) Jit(TOll TUIP IX THE ANTARCTIC. London. May 27. It is announced that preparations are rapidly advancing for Hie "dash" bv j motor-car to the South Pole which is contemplated by Lieutenant Shacklcton. who took part in the famous vovage of I the Discovery under Captain Scott. He istatc- lliat iiis ship nill sail from Lon|don at the end of July or the first week lin August. She is a Newfoundland Soulier, especially built for contending with jiee. an.i will undergo certain alterations I prior to sailing, with the idea of giving more room down below for storage pitr-

First she, will proceed lo New Zealand; thence she will go to King Edward VII. Land, where she will disembark the shore part v. In January. IMS. she will return to Xew Zealand, arriving there in May of that year; and will lie tip till the following January, when she noes down again to King Edward VII. l*ind and will pick up the expedition on its return from i's shore work. The expedition will navigate as far as possible to the westward, till the coal runout, and it gets 100 dark and dangerous, whence it will return to Xew Zealand. and thence Home again. Lieutenant Shackleton and his comrades expect to lie in England again in June. 1!HI!>. It is understood that the captain of the vessel lias not yet been chosen. There will lie a crew of loin teen. In addition there will lie a stall for scientific and general wuik, numbering twelve in all. l'lieae will include Sir Phi.ip lirocklelturst. who is a good, strong man at sledging work, and who will also do the surveying; Lieutenant Adams, who will act as meteorologist, and is also good for sledging: Mr James .Murray (the biologist), and Mr Jame.s Muir, who is an able mechanical engineer. A special feature of the expedition is that it will press the motor car into the service of the Antarctic exploration. This idea is not new. It was mooted at the time of the last expedition, but so far as Lieutenant Shackleton knows the present is the first time it has ever been put into effect. The intention is to use |ietrol or some other substance which will not freeze; while it will have a separate *et of wheels adapteil to the varying surfaces over which the journey has to be made. The car is not to carry the iiieinliers of the expedition—with them it is a case of inarching on foot. Its function will l>e to draw the sledges containing the impediments expedition. But in ease the motor breaks down on the accustomed journey, the loads will lw transferred to a number of Mauchurian ponies. These animals are very strong, capable of living on eight pound* of food a day. and will lie quite at home in the Antarctic regions, for they are accustomed to living iifexceedingly low temperatures. There will also he a number of dogs with the patty. From the base of King Edward VII. Land to the South Pole is some seven hundred miles, and unless insuperable mountains difficulties are met. the distance may be cnveied in almut five weeks or so. Lieutenant Shackleton points out that the object of Ids expedition is not. a mere 'dash to the Pole" and back. There is geographical and scientific work ill hand also. Four million square miles in the region of the pole await the footsteps of the explorer, and a rich harvest of geological, geographical, and magnetic discoveries is probably in stores for those who venture the journey. The world's railways in IBSO measured 210 miles. now- there arc over moon.

France derives an annual revenue of fISO.OOn fun s from the tax on bicycles. Life a-suiance in Knuland dates from mi.

The first almanac was printed ill Hungary in 14711. In Imlit there are four main castes. the Brahmins being the highest and the. Snmlras the lowest. There are also many of no caste at all. These are termed Pariah*.

Afghan soldiers are not allowed to near l«urds.

Crabs, while they can see and smell, cannot hear.

The tax on newspapers was abolished in 18*1. At that date the total combined" circulation of all newspapers was under ."HM.IMO a day.

There are 540(1 -ouare mile* of coal fields in I': real Britain.

The Uike District his the greatest rainfaM in Ihe British Isles. The shores of the Baltic Sea are the worlds greatest source of amlier. The largest piece ever found weighs lSlb. and is valued at CfiOOO. Tt is now in the Itoyal Museum at Berlin.

It is estimated that in the great City of London lioriJl homeless people sleep in the open air at night.