ME ANTARCTIC.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 132, 3 December 1908, Page 3

ME ANTARCTIC.

DEPARTURE OF THE NIMROD. [PBBBS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, '■ Tuesday. Lytteiton to-day honoured the* departure qftho Nimrod for the Antarctic to pick up Lieutenant Shackletou. and the remainder of the shore party left at McMurdo Sound in February last. Allshipping in port, and most of tho public and commercial buildings, displayed flags. The flagship Powerful and H.M. ships Challenger and Pegasus wore gaily dressed with bunting in . honour of tho Queen's Birthday. The whole, of the jNimrod's company were in the highest of spirits, and there is every possibility of tho vessel returning to porti spme time during. Match of April; next. Oh being seen by a reporter, Gap-, tain Evans said that he and his officers desired to thank the people of Canterbury and New Zealand gener-. ally for the great kindnesses shown to them and the eordiabmessages for-; war.d«l to them. It was quite impossible to acknowledge, individual telegrams^ and letters, but they desired that everybody concerned should accept that 'message 'as expressive of their ti^artfolt -thanks' for tho good ■wishes, expTPSsed iwaTds* their enterpriae.. ..i-l: ; i.». < ■■Ml,;'u--- -. .: The following tfelegram. was received byXietiijenanl Efaau,foonatta»ider of the Nimr^,from^ir Joseph Ward, just before the vessel sailed: "I join the citizens of -the dobinioii in wishing jou. your officers and men bon voyage, a safe passage, and a quick return. I sincerely hope that you will find Lr#flteil«rtrSteisWctan and his bTave niajfc aa^tß^-^fevof good health, and that we ...shall. before long have the pleasure of welcoming each member of the party back to New Zealand. Best wishes for a successful voyage."