The Polar Explorers

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 172, 29 October 1910, Page 4

The Polar Explorers

SOME INTERESTING VIEWS. SCIENTISTS AND OFFICERS INTERVIEWED. By Telegraph.—rrcss Association. Christehtirch, Last Night. Tin; prevailing spirit among members of the Polar expedition, arriving by the Terra Nova, is one of high courage, marked by optimism. Apart from the attack on'the Pole, which Captain Scott wiil lead, and on which he may be left to speak, the officers and scientists look forward to doing work of prime importance and lasting value. Of the Terra Nova Lieutenant Evans speaks in terms of warm praise. He says she could not be better for the work in hand. She is a marked improvement on the Morning and the Nimrod, and to a less extent on the Discovery, particularly in the matter of accommodation. She 1 behaves well under steam and sail. The i vessel will be docked next week to have. : her bottom cleaned and there will be little room for complaint. Lieut. Evans 1 adds that the stores are already in their , right order on board, and very little time, will be lost on that account, and , practically the only work to be done here will be to get fresh supplies aboard and straighten up generally. Dr. Wilson, head of the scientific staff, ] says he expects the expedition to d» 1 great work. As each day brings him. ' nearer the Antarctic, his enthusiasm grows. He speaks most hopefully of .the prospects of both land parties' and of the Terra Nova. While she is operating independently, her work will follow the lines of H.M.S. Challenger's expedition very closely in many respects. Dr. Wilson has high praise for every member of the scientific staff, and says the equipment is complete and thoroughly up-to-date. Dr. Atkinson, bacteriologist, talks most interestingly. His department, the. investigation of bacteria and parasites, has not previously been undertaken as a special department of any Polar expedition, and Dr. Atkinson feels he has opportunity for very valuable and interesting work. Lieut. Campbell, who leads the eastern party, explains that with two scientists and three seamen he will go in the Terra Nova some 500 miles east of the main party at McMurdo Sound. He will land on King Edward VII. Land, or perhaps on the firm ice of the barrier, and there set up « small hut. His partywill be isolated for perhaps twelve or fourteen months, and will carry out the usual scientific observations, affording a valuable comparison with the results obtained by the western party. Lieut. Campbell's party will have a wide range of action, covering as large an area as possible with ponies and sledges, making a complete survey and maps of the country. They will be on virgin ground. Generally, the members of the staff speak of the expedition as the best equipped one, on the scientific side, of all southern expeditions, and say that probably no Polar expedition in either hemisphere ever planned a wider scope of work or attempted to cover so much ground.

ARRIVAL IN LYTTELTON. A ROOMY VESSEL. Chrisfcchuroh, Last Night. Tlie Terra Nova, which lias arrived' at Lyttelton, left London on June 1, and although a "Stop of three weeks was made at Capetown, with a shorter stay at Melbourne, both officers and men expressed delight at having reached Lyttelton. In the forecastle the expressions of pleasure at the sight of the port and its background of hills were particularly enthusiastic. The best run during the voyage from Home that was made under sail alone was entered in the log of September 14. The vessel was then on the way to Capetown, and during the twenty-four hours she covered 188 miles without any assistance from her engines. Just before Simon's Bay was reached 227 miles were covered in one day with the aid of both forms of power. THE PREMIER'S MESSAGE. The first message Lieutenant Evans received when the Terra Nova came alongside the wharf was a congratulatory telegram from the Prime Minister. It is as follows: "Lieut. Evans, Terra Nova —I extend a hearty welcome to yourself, officers and men upon your arrival in the Dominion, and I trust your mission under Captain Scott will prove successful. I look forward with pleasure to meeting you before you depart.—J. G. Ward." NINE HAVE BEEN BEFORE. What struck onlookers very forcibly to-day was the youthful appearance ot the members of the expedition, from the young commander downwards. No fewer than eight members of the expedition accompanied Captain Scott on JuV previous expedition. They are: Lieut. Evans; Warrant Officer Feather; ChiefStoker Lashley; Petty Officers Evans. Creat and Williamson; Seaman Heald; and Sailman Smythe. Seaman Paton. who accompanied the Nimrod expedition is also a member of the party. ROYAL RECOGNITION.

In the officers' mess-room of the Terra Nova are autograph photographs of King Edwai'd and Queen Alexandra, and of King George and Queen Mary. That of the late King and the Queen-Mother previously belonged to the Discovery. King Edward's is dated August 5, I*lol, and Queen Alexandra's, Coronation Day. August !). 1902. Those of King George, and Queen Mary are dated 1910. It is: surprising to note the large number of scientists aboard who graduated at Cambridge University.

The Terra Nova is a much more roomy vessel than the Nimrod, in which .Sir Ernest Shackleton sailed to and from Antarctica. After the Nimrod's pokey quarters and cramped spaces, the Terra. Nova's are quite palatial. However, when the dogs, ponies, sledges and other paraphernalia have been accommodated, the members of the expedition will probably require all the room there is left to enable them to get about. THE LEADER IX WELLINGTON. Wellington, Last Night. Captain Scott, E.N., leader of the Antarctic expedition, was entertained by a number of local sicentifie men at luncheon at the Wellington Club to-day. Ho left for Lyttelton this evening.