THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10203, 3 April 1911, Page 3

THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

i MEETING OF CAPTAIN AMMUND- ! SEN. I A CABLE TO LONDON. By Telegraph—F*ess Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night, The following cable message, describing the meeting of some members of the Britisli Antarctic Expedition with Captain Ammundsen's Norwegian expedition, was forwarded to London from this city last night : "When following the barrier from . King Edward VII. Land, with a view to- landing the eastern party in the vicinity of Balloon Bight, found the Fram at the Bay of Whales. Visited the Fram and learnt that Ammundsen, Johansen, and a party of seven, were establishing winter quarters two miles from the edge of the ice. Ammundsen returned in the early morning, and invited the English officers to breakfast. They visited the hut. It had every appearance of comfort. The men were in excellent health and condition. The stores were being landed and transported to the quarters. Seals were abundant. Ammundsen and his officers lunched on the Terra Nova, after which the ship's company visited the Fram. The sole object of Ammundsen is to reach the pole, travelling via the Beardmore Glacier, after which he intends to carry out his original pro- j gramme of Arctic exploration. Mean- '■ time, the Fram proceeds to Buenos Ayres, returning to the Barrier in 1912 Their equipment is 116 Greenland dogs, sufficient sledges and skis. The dogs work thirteen in a team, there being two teams to each sledge, and working on alternate days. The load is lOOlbs each working dog. The party ski along with the sledges. The men are clothed in seal furs, and wear no wind clothing. The dog's food is dried fish. The Terra Nova left the message annomvcing the meeting of Ammundsen at the Discovery Hut, which Captain Scott will find on his return from the depot journey." Mr I). G. Lillie, one of the biologists with the expedition, who returned with the Terra Nova, was asked for information regarding his work. Mr Lillie explained that just at present he was not able to go into details, or to give any results. When the contents of the trawls were got on board, there was no time to investigate them, because unless immediately dealt with, they became frozen. He hoped, however, to be in a position in a. week or so. and added that he had made ar-. rangements with Mr R. Waite, curator of the Museum, for the exhibition of his specimens. Mr Waite had very kindly placed a shed at his disposal, npd also a room in the museum. Dr Chilton had also greatly assisted by lending him the necessary books. With these opportunities and facilities, Mr Lillie is expected to get to work on the specimens shortly, and he anticipates some good results therefrom. especially bearing on the theories regarding thi migration of sea things.