SOUTH POLE EXPEDITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10131, 29 October 1910, Page 5

SOUTH POLE EXPEDITION.

OPINION OF MEMBERS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHKISTCHURGH, Last Night,

The prevailing spirit among the members of the Polar Expedition arriving by the Terra Nova is one cf high courage, marked by optimism. Apart from the attack on the Pole, on which Captain Scott willlead, and on which he may be left to speak, the officers and scientists look forward to doing work r>f prime importance, lasting and valuable.

Of the Terra Nova, Lieut. Evans speaks in terms of warm praise, and says she could not be better for the work in hand. She is a marked improvement on the Morning and JNimrod, and to a less extent on the Discovery particulary, in the matter of accommodation. She behaves well under steamfand sail. The vessel will he docked next week, and have her bottom cleaned, and then there will be little room for complaint. Lieut. Evans adds that the stores are in their right order on board, and very little time will be lost on that account, and practically, the cnly work to be done here is to get fresh supplies aboard and straighten up generally. Dr. Wilson, head of the scientific staff, says he expects the expedition to do great work. As each day brings nearer the Antarctic,he has high enthusiasm of the prospects of both land parties and of the Terra Nova. While she is operating independently, work will follow the lines of the H.M.S. Challenger expedition very closely in many respects. Dr. Witeon has high praise for every member of the scientic staff, and says the equipment is complete and thoroughly up-to-date. Dr. Atkinson, bacteriologist, talks most interestingly of his department. The investigation of bacteria and parasites had not previously been undertaken as a special department on any Polar expedition, and Dr. Atkinson feels he has] the opportunity for very valuable and interesting work.

Lieut. Campbell, who leads the Eastern party, explains that with two scientists, and three seamen, he will go in the Terra Nova some 500 miles east of the main party at Memurdo Sound, and will land on King Edward VII. Land or perhaps on the firm ice of the Barrier and here set up a small hut. The party will be isolated for perhaps twelve or fourteen months, and will carry out the usual scientific observations, affording a valuable comparison with the results of the Western party. Lieut. Campbell's party will have a wide range of action, covering as large an area as possible with the ponies and sledges, making a complete survey of maps of the country. They will be on virgin ground, generally, and members of the staff speak of the expedition as the best equipped, on the scientific side, of all Southern expeditions, and say that probably no Polar expedition in either hemisphere was ever planned on a wider scope of work or attempted to cover so much ground.