The Antarctic

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 212, 7 March 1914, Page 5

The Antarctic

BIG NUMBER OF Sl'EUl MENS. STATEMENT BY DR. MAWXOX. By Cubic—Fresß Association—Copvrigh Melbourne, March li. Dr. Mawson. speaking at a n-clconu to tin; expedition, said ho had brougM! back several tons of rock and miner.' specimens, throe or four hundred till" skins and a number of mammals of Hit seal type. He had obtained indieatio i.of a large area of coal. At present he could not estimate the < omniereial value of the new lands, but (hey might have much, and it was only right that Australia should have it, as Australian and British expeditions bad accomplished practically all the work done there. Dr. Mawson stated that lie hail occlusive arrangements with London papers for li is main narrative. lie bat. however, supplied certain news to th-> Australian papers, and as the result his whole contract with London had been cancelled. Mr. Hurley, a member of the expedition, gives an interesting description of the MacKoliar Islands, a group a few miles north of Dr. Mawson's main base. It is a breeding ground for seals, rare gulls, petrels anil penguins. He estimated that there were 150,000 Adeie penguins breeding in the group at t'JC time of his visit. SIIACKLKTOX'S EXPEDITION. FIX.AXOIAL SUPPORT. THE KOEXIG CONTROVERSY. Received fi. f1.50 p.m. London. March (!. Sir Ernest Sliackleton has already n.>. ceivud £50,1X10 towards his Antarctic expedition. He declines to take part in any controversy regarding Captain Kocnig's claims to priority in Antarctic exploration.