THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 1910. THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10060, 4 June 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 1910. THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

The announcement in our yesterday's cableg that the Terra Nova had started on her journey for Australasia is of considerable interest to New Zealandera, especially as the Dominion is sharing a portion of the cost of the Antarctic expedition. It is, of course, somewhat regrettable that Australia, as represented : by the Labour Government, has decided not to subscribe, especially after the large share the Commonwealth had in the brilliant journey, of Sir Ernest Shackleton. The immense interest aroused by that expedition and its bold advertisement of New Zealand go to prove that it is not a losing game by any means for the Dominion to assist financially in the carrying on of the scientific work. ■ As soon as the marked success of Sir E. Shackleton became known in England enthusiasm was inspired all over the country, and dveryone agreel that, as the British flag had bsen' carried so far, , no effort should be spared to carry it the few milas further required to plant it on the Southern Pole. \n these circumstances a project was im-

mediately forthcoming to equip aj i fresh expedition, at a post cf some ] ' £50,000, inder the leadership of Captan Scott, whose splendid work in uhe Discovery is Known to everyone who i < has followed the progress of Antarc- j i tic research. The project was warmly supported from the first. The British Government contributed about half the estimated cost, while Liverpool and Manchester have been specially conspicuous in forwarding the- good work. The Terra Nova, which is now on her way to Lyttalton where she will take on further stores, is an old Scotch whaler, which was sent to the relief of the Diacuvery in 1903; and she is in every way Antarctic work. It is expected that the ship will finally leave New Zealand waters about November next; the expedition on reaching Antarctica will settle down into winter quarters; and with the return of spring a dash for the Pole will be made which, if all goes well, will reach its goal about midsummer of next year. One base will ba established under ths familiar Mount.Erebus, and anothar 400 miles to the east on King Edward VII. Land. It is from lhi3 latter the final dash will oa made, partly because new ground will thus be traversed, and partly becau3Q there will ba lass of the bitterly cold Polar plateau to endure. Although the geographical feat, the conquest of the last Pole, is the main object in view, the expedition will ba wall equipped for general scientific work, and further important results in this direction are pretty sure to come to light. With ' regard to the main advance the experience gained by the Shackleton expedition will be invaluable as eliminating the less desirable means of transport—and i the whole problem of reaching the Pole is in effect a question of transport. Captain Scott' has great faith in motor-' sledges, and some of these have been especially devised for running on soft snow. . It is quite possible that these sledges will solve the problem, but in case they da not there will be an ample .supply of both dogs and ponies. The expedition seems to have every chance of sue-! cess, and it certainly could not have a better leader.^