THE AURORA.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1916, Page 5

THE AURORA.

COMMANDER'S GRATITU|H& By Telegraph.—Press Assooiatlo* ,( Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Massey received the telegram to-day from Lieut. Stenhou* commanding the Antarctic ship Auwmj "Please accept the sincere thanks tiro* all on board the Aurora for the heart* welcome extended by you and the Got crnment of New Zealand, and for you congratulations on our safe amn\ Please also accept my sincere thanks ft) your generous gift of time and ***U* ance in our final stage, I hopo soon "t* have the honor of your acquaintance when I can more fully word my grati tude." A FEW PARTICULARS; '"" ''""*" Dunedin, Last Night. Interviewed to-night, Lieut. Stenhovnw of the Aurora, stated that after,th« u rival of the vessel at Cape Croitor tbj whaleboat left with a party to e* deavour to land near tie Cape with win. ter clothing and stores for the fat* foj party number three, which was to lean in June for the Emperor. Penguin Bakery, but no landing was effected «*b| to the advancing barrier of ice alow ihi Cape Crozier cliffs. A paasaga <#u made southwards, but no piles fot depot-laying could be seen. The sift proceded next to McMurdo Sottnd, *ns arrived off Cape Evans on Janowy Ift A party made a survey of Scott's Hub while the ship proceeded towards One Evans. , DISPATCHING THB PABTMS, On January 18 a party of six left far Hut Point where they were delaved ft* three days by a severe blizzard. 'A' depot-laying party of three left on January 24 for Minna Bluff, 85 tttoa away, and on January 25 Mcintosh and three others left for Mount Hooper, 175 miles, on the main' Southern depot-lay-ing journey. On January 31, OMe'a party of six left for Minna Bluff wift * motor tractor, drawing two sledges, thtj members of the party pulling another.' Meanwhile, the ship was endeavouring to reach Hut Point and lay in good supplies, but she was prevented by the lateness in the break up of the ice and a succession of blizzards. After iDUeb. effort the Aurora went toward Qla*ier Tongue for winter quarters. Tjha perloi there was one of constant aiudaty, owing to the drifting pack and the floptinuak blizzard. Finding no suitable. place for winter quarters the Auroral anchored at Cape Evans.

A SUCCESSION OF A severe blizzard occurred on March 10, and next • day provisions for four months for the non-returning patty were sent to Hut Point. Another severe bUe< zard sprang up, and the Bhip, "breaking her anchors, drifted dangerously clogs to Cape Hoyds and Cape Barn, and then out to the month of the Sound; Su* «•; turned to Cape Evans on the following day.

On March 23 Stevens and party were domiciled in the hut ashore. Blizttrds were of constant recurrence, ever increasing in severity, and the bodily drifting of ice put a tremendous strain' on the moorings. During a dense drift of ice the ship parted from the tlda) crack and \\cnt out bodily,, snapping her mooiings like threads, though thesi comprised the limit of the ship's equip* meat. THE -VESSEL IN THE ICKj Ulfl?. When the ship was driven Itwty, Iht Southern party had not return'eij/but wirciets calls were sent out -iu ; tbe hope that a small aerial might hive btcn erected at the Cape or that the canatant rit'l'' might disturb the 'magnetic instruments—regularly, to let them know that the ship was safe. ■' The ship drifted towards Franklin Island. On July 21 the ice broke up and the ship swung athwart the cave, but the ice closed in again and nipped the Aurora from stern to stem, crushing the rudder. The ship lifted steadily »nrt her position was critical for gome hours, Sledging preparations were made for th< abandonment of the ship, and aerogram,* were sent asking for relief. The ahip then drifted northwards, and on October 4 new land was sighted. ' ON SHORT RATION?

Food and clothing were very short for eight months, and the men had only two meals a day. On February 12 ice broke up round the ship; which mad? for the ncrth on March 10. AN ANXIOUS TIME. During a heavy gale two large berge closed in on the Aurora, so that steam had to be raised, and after many attempts she passed close to the end of ft berg. On March 14 there were thirty bergs in the vicinity of the ship, and 100 within range of the horizon, but the ship easily got through. Wireless signals were heard when the. Aurora was 990 miles from Hobart,