THE FROZEN SOUTH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 53, 27 March 1909, Page 5

THE FROZEN SOUTH

RETURN OF THE NIMROD ROYAL • Received 20, 11.35 p.m. Loudon, March 20. King Edward lias congratulated iLieut, Shaekleton and his comrades.

A TUKILLIXU STORY. HOW THE MOTOR CAR WORKED USELESS ON ICE BARRIER. GOOD WORK ON SUITABLE •SURFACES.

2y Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchureh, Thursday. The motor expert who went to Ant

arctica with the expedition, Mr. B. C. Day, gave some interesting experience** with the car. It will be recalled that the us© of the automobile as an adjunct to Antarctic exploration was one of the features of the British Antarctic expedition. The car did about 4SO miles, remarked Mr. Day, in depotlaying between Cape Royds and (ilacier Tongue. Continuing, Mr. Day said that th e class of country travelled over was sea ice, with patches of isnow whieli varied from about six inches ia depth. He lmd a bit of trouble with the lubrication of the machinery, finding that the oil froze at-ininus 3U degrees; that was the lowest temperature at which lie had driven the motor.

It was absolutely useless to expect the car to run on the surface of the barrier, as the surface was so soft. It was composed of compressed snow, in layers about one foot iu depth, into ■which th e wheels of the car sank to the axles. As to the motor, he stated that the heaviest was contained in two sledges, and weight 18001b., in addition to three people. Half the weight was on one sledge, and tli e other half on the second one. The rate of progress was about six miles per hour, but if the surface were good, the ear sometimes did nine or ten miles an hour. Without a loau the car could do thirty miles an hour over sea ice. The surface of the sea ice was practically a smooth sheet of ice, the only break in, the smoothness lieing caused by snow flowers, heaps of snow about the size of a man's hand, •which made the-surface a little heavier. I

Mr. Day stated definitely that motor cars were absolutely useless on the iireat lee Barrier. No car could meet the varied character of the country to l>e travelled, and no ear could be "built light enough to go over the deposits of snow. He was of opinion that motor sledges .similar to those that are to be used by the French Antarctic expedition, under Dr. Charcot, "would be very useful In Antarctic exploration.

The car taken on the Ximrod had been brought 'back and was at that moment on the boat-skids. It was not damaged in any way, and there had been 110 breakage*. He explained that when he wanted to start the car when working on the ice he had had to warm the engine with a blow-lamp. For work on the ice, he had lightened the car by taking tlw body off aad any gear not necessary for driving purposes.—Special to the Lominion.