THE AURORA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1916, Page 6

THE AURORA.

THE RELIEF VOYAGE. A statement was made by the Hon. Dr. M'Nab on Tuesday (says the Dominion)), regarding a cabled announcement of Sir Earnest Shackleton that he was going ,to take the Aurora south to the Ross Sea to bring off the men left there. Lieutenant Shackleton is reported to have sent to England the following message:— "I am proceeding by the first available boat, leaving Buenos Aires on October 9, for England. I will spent a few days there to adjust the affairs of the expedition, and then leave with all haste for Australia, and personally lead the Ross Sea relief party. I consider that nothing will be gained by the Aurora leaving New Zealand before the first week in January, as the ice conditions will be much better than earlier, and a speedy passage is possible." "The position regarding the Aurora is this," said Dr. M'Nab. "The British Government are finding half the cost of the refitting, and the New Zealand and Australian Governments are dividing the other half. The three Governments have arranged that Captain Davies, who accompanied Captain Scott on his voyage towards the South Pole, -hall command the ship;. Evidently Lieutenant Shackleton was not aware of what had been done, and understood that this voyage was part of the original but it is not. The Aurora is being sent as a relief shin, and lias no onneetion whatever with the Shackleton expedition except that the ship goes to elieve some.of Shaekleton's men. Cap- ■'-- T ',; r ; is to H'-ivo from M«lbourne by the Paloona, and will probably reach Bluff early next week. We anticipate that the Aurora will sail for the Ross Sea early in December. The actual date of sailing will depend upon the decision of the commander. The work of refitting is now nearing completion, but it has been so distributed that it will probably go on right up to the sailing date."