ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 24 October 1907, Page 4

ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

| ITS OBJECTS. 1 HIE POLE IF POSSIBLE. Lieutenant E. H. Shackelton, who is in charge jf the Nun rod Antarctic ex. [oditioD, contributed an interesting account of his plan of operations to the Much number of the Geographical Journal Ho stated that the expedition would, unlike that «t the Discovery, consist of a small shorn party of nine to twelve men, who would winter at tho winter quarters of the Discovery The ship, ho stated would not leave New Zealand until Feb. ruary, when the sea in tbe south was free of ioe. On landing the party the vessel would return to New Zealand, and the charter would bo up until the following year. Tbere would thus be no risk of tho ship being frown in, and there would be no responsibility to those at home.

'The funds at our disposa 1 admit uf the following programme," continued beotenant Shackchon. "The shore party of nine or twelve men will winter with sufficient equipment to enable three scpa. rtto parties to start <»t in tho spring One party will go east, and if possible, raws the buries? to the new land known a* King Edward the Seventh's Land, follow tho coast-line there south, if the coast tends south, or north if north, returning when it is considered necessary to do so. The second party wili proceed south on the same route as that of the southern sledge party of thfl Discovery. This party will keep from 16 to 20 miles from the coast, so as to avoid any rough ioa. Tha third party will possibly prooead westward over the mountains, and ilwtMd of crossing in a line duo west will strike towards the magnetic pole. PONIES AND A MOTOR CAR. "Ihe main change in equipment wiSI be that Siberian ponies will bo takon for the sledge journey both east, and sooth, and also a specially deeigned motor car for the southern journey. A North Chiaa or Siberian pony ia oapable of dragging 18801bs. on a food basis of lflflbs. per day. A dog drags lOOlbs at the outaido and requires over 21 bs af food a day. Therefore, one pony drags as much as eighteen dogs at lees than one-third in weight of provisions and can travel comfortably X to 25 miles a day. "The motor will be a special type, taking into consideration tho temperature to be encountered and the surface to be travelled on. I would propose to take three or fcnr pomes on "tie southern joorney, and the motor car. As long as the car oontinoed to remain satisfactory it alone wr.tdd be used tc drag our equipment and provisions. If it broke down and amid lot be fired up, then tho ponies would take over the load. OVER TWENTY MILES A DAY.

"I would propose travelling at the rate of 30 to 25 miles a day, and feel assured that, providing the mtcor does its work, we could reach with it a point beyond 8a deg. 16 min. S. I intend evoiy 100 miles to drop a sledge-load of provisions and equipment, so that, in the event or every means of tracticn breaking down except by men, w« would cr.ly have 100 miles to go between each depot on return. The geographical South Bole is 731 miles from the winter quarters, and, allowing that we only go with the motor to 82deg 16min., we -would then practically be starting for tho remaining 461 miles .vi i fresh as if we wore starting from the | ship.

"What lies beyond 83deg. S. we cannot tell, bat I am of opinion that we can fillow the trend of the southern mountains far * WJ lons *ay south, before they turn either east or west. Should they turn to the westward, and we find it impos. tiUo to get ovtt them with the ponies, we would pull the (ledges ourselves up the nearest available glacier. If no way np the mountain] U found, we would continue frllcwing them round to the eastsurd until wo found it necessary to rotors towards winter quarters. If, on the other hand, the mccntains turned to the