POLAR EXPLORATION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10592, 26 March 1912, Page 5

POLAR EXPLORATION

THE JAPANESE EXPEDITION.

(By Telegraph—Fress Association.)

WELLINGTON, Last Night. Mr T. Young, the Japanese consul at Wellington, paid a visit to the Japanese exploring ship, Kainan Maru, to-day. Like the crew, the little ship shows ho signs of hard usage, everything being, in good order. All available space on board has been turned to practical account, and the accommodation is by no means commodious. The saloon is small but warm ■and comfortable. *t is situated in. •the after part of the ship, and used as N the living quarters of the officers and scientists. The crew was housed- in forward quarters, and here, too, space is at a premium. Six dogs, of thirty taken away, have returned', and these look strong (and healthy. They are not housed, ibut are merely tethered to the- bulwarks amidships. The stable food of the party, while in the Antarctic, comprised rice and vegetables, very little else being eaten. There are- in all a.bout twenty-seven persons on hoard. Fur and thick •woollen stuffs comprised' their clothing, but on account' of the excellent weather. experienced,. thick wrappings | were ; not • always essential<; There.'.wereI blizzards, hiittliey were of short duration,' an&were not particularly* severe.* For "the major portion ,pf the tiijier,th&, sky v «ws ~clojudle&s t and occasionally the sun was noticeably hot, ~Lieutpna.rit Shirase, the leader of tlie expedition, will return to Japan, via Sydney, leaving the Kainan. Maru at Wellington. He will be accompanied by Messrs Takeda, Ikeda and Murainatsu (scientists);' Captain Nomura will take the Kai- ; nan Maru back to Japan. ' ■• •