THE SOUTH POLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 323, 9 June 1911, Page 5

THE SOUTH POLE.

THE MAWSON EXPEDITION. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Melbourne, June 8. The director of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism at the Carnegie Institute, Washington, has offered the loan of a complete set of magnetic instruments to the Mawson expedition. The offer is conditional on securing the services of Mr. Norman Webb, of Christchurch, or some other competent person.

CAPTAIN AMUNDSEN'S PLANS. . t London, June 7. Captain Amundsen, in a letter to the Times dated February 9, gives his reasons for having originally believed that the Bay of Whales was produced by underlying land or rising ground. These wore confirmed when he saw the formations more clearly and sharply defined, and at the southern end distinctly discerned hills and valleys indicating underlying land or shoals. Here it arrested the course of a mighty, glacier and forced it out to either side.

Captain Amundsen christened the station established in latitude 78deg. 40min. South "Framheim." He (intended >to establish his main depot at SOdeg. South and a smaller one as far south as possible. He hoped to reach 83deg. for the smaller depot in the autumn before the dark season.

AMUNDSEN'S CAPTAIN INTER VIEWED.

Captain Xilacn. commanding the Fram, Captain Amundsen's vessel, w«» interviewed at Buenos Ay res on April 19, on belialf of London papers. He declared that Captain Amundsen on board the Fram arrived in the Antarctic regions on January 14 last. He endeavored to find a favorable spot for anchoring, and found it the next day. The Fram dropped anchor safely quite close to a comparatively elevated coast, and the work of landing the instruments, dogs sledges and provisions was immediately begun. Several days were spent in this task. Captain Amundsen then established his first camp on a hill close to where the Fram was moored, and began to make his preparations for the dash to the Pole, v.iiptain Amundsen decided that the Fram, in order to escape the Antarctic winter, should leave as soon as possible, and she accordingly sailed on February 14 before the captain had started for the south. The Fram starts after a few weeks on another vovage between Africa and South America, which was to be devoted to the study of winds and currents, oceanography, scientific observations and similar subjects. She will return to Buenos Ayres to renew her stores before proceeding again to the Antarctic. It is expected to leave Buenos Ayres on October 1, when Captain Xilsen proceeds direct in search of Captain Amundsen anil his party. He denied that Captain Amundsen had an aeroplane, ns had been stated in certain scientific reviews.

Captain Xilscn was vcrv reticent concerning the jiliins and projects of Captain Amundsen, and on being asked as to the name mid exact position of the point from wliich Captain Amundsen would make his dash Tor the Pole, he declared that the place still lacked a name. It appeared sis if lie were anxious to give no information about the exact, position and route of Captain Amundsen. Caplam Xilscn states that the Fram reached a latitude of 7S degrees 41min —the most southerly point, ever attained by a ship.