FOR THE SOUTH POLE

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 271, 15 November 1910, Page 8

FOR THE SOUTH POLE

TERRA NOVA LOADING UP. FINAL DEPARTURE ON DECEMBER 1 OiT Telegraph.—Press "Association.) ■ CHRIST/CHURCH, Monday. The Terra Nova is now looking neat and trim after her overhaul, and was floated out of dry dock shortly before 10 o'clock this morning. She will start reloading, and will take in 100 tons of coal from one of the hulks to-morrow, nml a very brisk week is ahead of the ship's company. The whole of the stores for the shore parties are now stacked ready for reloading, and a start will be rnadi; to get them on board and stowed away in the holds. The Terra Nova will" take nltogether about 450 tons of coal this voyage. Probably about 350 tons of this will be shipped at Lyttelton nnd the remainder will be loaded from tin; supplies at Port Chalmers. If after all stores, gear and general equipment have been loaded it is found that there U room for more coa.l it will be taßen, as every ton will be valuable. Special provision will bo made for the accommodation of the 40 dogs, which will be housed on the m>i n deck, and as the four large motor pledges, the cases of petroleum and a quantity of other bulky articles of equipment will also be carried on deck, there will be very little clear space about the. vessel after the ponios and dogs are aboard. The ship will also be very deep in the water when she is loaded and ready for sea. As far as is known at present the Terra Nova will leave Lyttelton on the 24th or 25th inst. for Port Chalmers, and she will take her final departure from that port probably on December \. There is a probability that H.M.s. Powerful, flagship of the Australian squadron, will be in port at Lyttelton on the day of the. vessel's departure. Two additions to the crew' 3 jjets have been made during the last two days, being a tame brown rabbit and a sedate-looking vrhi t<; pigeon.