THE TERRA NOVA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 267, 1 April 1911, Page 5

THE TERRA NOVA.

ARRIVES AT LYTTELTOX. ENTHUSIASTIC AYEIjCOMK. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The Terra Nova, fresh from the Antarctic, was expected to arrive at Lyttellon from Stewart Island between i) a.m. and noon to-day. The winds along the coast during the past two or three days had been reported as light soutl' erly, so that the vessel .should have made, good progress. At daybreak yesterday morning, however, a thick fog hung over Lyttelton harbor, and long after noon heavy banks of clouds veiled many of the hills and the entrance to the harbor. As the hours sped on and the exploring ship had not been signalled, it was thought that, as in the case when she last came to Lyttelton, her commander was waiting till the fog should lift in order to show him his whereabouts, and it afterwards transpired that the Terra Nova was not in the fog at all, but was engaged in making compass adjustments. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the Terra Nova was signalled five miles outside the heads, and the tug Canterbury, with Captain Thorpe, steamed out to meet the expected arrival. The Terra Xova was soon sighted coming up .under easy steam just outside the heads. The coastal steamer Cygnet was the first to pass her, hearty cheers being given by those aboard the Cygnet for the explorers. Then a rakish looking motor launch shot round the old whaler's bows, and at the same time a welcome signal fluttered from the masthead of the tug approaching the Terra Nova just inside the heads.

Those aboard the tug,' led by Captain Thorpe, gave three hearty .cheers for the Terra Novans, the explorers giving three in return for Lyttelton, "and then, until the two boats met, a perfect fusillade of cheers and counter cheers was volleyed back and forth. Captain Thorpe then took command of the Terra Xova, and piloted her to her berth, the tug towing her to the corner of the breakwater.

Coming through the moles the Terra Xova was greeted with a perfect babel of sound from the syrens of the shipping in the harbor, the Wagnerian welcome continuing right up to the berthing of the new arrival at the wharf at°five o'clock. At the Terra Nova's berthing place was gathered a large assemblage of the public, and the tooting of the syrens was supplemented by hearty cheers.

THE EFFECTS OF THE STORM. A PERILOUS 'TIME. Ohristchurch, Last Night. The effects of the storm experienced on the way down to the Antarctic are easily apparent. The ' bulwarks are smashed in several places, and a large part of them is missing. Members ol the crew say it was the worst storm they had ever experienced, and if it had lasted three hours more the ship must have gone under. The engines were immersed in water, and the crew had to bail it out overboard. The ship's appearance was eloquent testimony to the rough handling she must have reeeiced. On the hottest day the expedition experienced, 4deg. of frost were registered, yet the sun was strong enough during the summer months to brown the faces of the members oi the expedition. "Nigger," the coal black kitten who accompanied the expedition south, is, his many friends and admirers will be pleased to learn, quite well and happy and comfortably installed aboard the vessel. The tug Canterbury brought a large mail yesterday for the members of the Terra Nova. When the vessel drew near the wharf many were the queries from feminine lips as to different ones among those who had been left behind. XJIAS DAY LN THE FAR SOUTH. Xmas Day was celebrated in Antarctica in the time honored fashion. The proverbial turkey was missing from the yuletide dinner, but an excellent substitute was found in roast beef, and there was plenty of good old plum duff. MEETING WITH THE FEAM. This is how one of the crew of the Terra Nova graphically described the meeting with the Fram to a Press reporter. <: One early morning the Terra Nova dropped into a small inlet, Balloon Inlet (I think that's its name). Thost of us asleep aboard were suddenly awakened from our slumbers by the cry of 'A ship! A ship!' We thought itwas some one joking. We, however, turned out, and to our great surprise, saw a ship lashed to the ice. We had to rub our eyes two or three times before we could believe our senses. It proved to be the Fram. Only one oi two of the Fram's crew were up at the time, but soon her decks were crowded and greetings were exchanged between lie "