CHARCOT'S EXPEDITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 38, 14 February 1910, Page 5

CHARCOT'S EXPEDITION.

NEW LAND DISCOVERED

LONDON, February 12. Dr. Charcot, on his arrival at Punta Arenas, stated he had reached 70deg south, longitude 12deg west, and discovered new land west and south of Alexander the First's Land. EXPLORER DESCRIBES PLANS FOR POLAR TRIP. CHRISTCHURCH THE BASE. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, January 7. "This time next year," said Captain Scott to mc, "I expect to be in the regior, of the Great Ice Barrier." At last it is definitely decided that Captain Scott's expedition will go to the Antarctic. The question of the money required is solved. Furthermore, the expedition will be a national one, under the aegis of the Imperial Government. You will have heard by cable this week that the Government has granted £20,000 towards the funds of the expedition. In giving mc the news on Wednesday, Captain Scott made an interesting statement regarding the position of affairs to date. "The amount already subscribed," he told mc, "is over £11,000. Adding the promised Government grant, we can now reckon on £31,000 out of the £40,000 for which I originally asked the country. "Owing to the public's present preoccupation with election matters, I have ceased for the present to make any organised attempt to get subscriptions. Meanwhile, I personally am pushing on the work of preparation. "Tho sum already subscribed will ensure the departure of the expedition in July. Arrangements are now being made for the supply of provisions and clothing. Mr. C. H. Meares is proceeding to Siberia on January 16, bound for Vladivostok. He will go into the interior of Eastern Siberia to get the necessary ponies and dogs for the expedition. Arrangements have already been made for shipping these via Kobe and Adelaide to New Zealand. All the food stuffs for these animals are being collected. MOTOR-SLEDGE TRIALS. "It has been definitely decided that the base of the expedition shall be Christchurch. "A -single motor-sledge is in course of construction by the Wolsey-Siddeley Company, and will be ready in February. Trials will take place in Norway in my presence," Captain Scott stated. "I shall test the merits before ordering further sledges. Arrangements have been made for the purchase of other sledges and clothing in Norway, all of which will be inspected by mc. It is too early yet to give a detailed list of the officers and crew, but it will be an all-British expedition. "Arrangements are being pushed forward for completing the scientific staff, and great care is being exercised in the selection of efficient and fit men to occupy the various posts. The provision of tb« necessary scientific instruments is also the subject of particular care. Special attention will be devoted to the choice o* photographic apparatus and wireless telegraphy instruments. Various modern developments will be made use of, so as to obtain the very best possible results from the expedition. HELP FROM OVERSEAS. "The expedition has now become a national undertaking," continued Captain Scott, "and there should be no difficulty in raising the remainder of the money by subscription. There remains the sum of £9000 to be collected to realise the sum I asked for from this country. "I have always hoped that the £40,000 would be a home contribution, and that w« should supplement this by special help from the oversea Dominions. There should be no difficulty, after this grant from the Home Government, in raising £9000. In fact, there is promise that the £40,000 will be considerably exceeded. It is satisfactory to know that the money already raised is sufficient to equip the ship for her voyage, and that she will certainly leave London in July. After calling at Cardiff for coal, she will proceed South, via the Cape and Australia and New Zealand. We shall leave there early in December." Captain Scott added that the Terra Nova was now being overhauled. "She is a good ship, very," he said. "Just the sort we wanted."