THE DISCOVERY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11154, 21 December 1901, Page 9

THE DISCOVERY.

HER DEPABTUBE FOB THE! ANTAKGTIC. '<

LAST DAY IN PORT.

A CALL AT PORT CHALMERS

The Discovery saiLs at two o'clock this afternoon. All hands have been kept busy putting the final touches to the vessel, and everything will be in readiness lor the departure at the hour mentioned. During her stay in port at (Lyttelton tbe Discovery has had a thorough overhauling, and all doubts as to her seaworthiness may be dismissed. What leakage there was has been reduced to insignificant proportions, thanks, to the careful and reliable.work of Mr James Millar, shipwright, and his assistanrta, tby whom the vessel has been recaulked and generally over-hauled. That Captain Scott and hie officers have full confidence in their ship is a good .enough indication that dhe is in all respects well fitted for the arduous mission in store for her. Meanwhile tie Discovery hart been smartened up considerably In outward appearance, and she will leave port as taut and trim as paint and plenty of hard work can"; make her. She in redolent of fresh paint and tar from stem to stern. Her rounded hull weawTa new coat of bkek, against which the yellow masts and funnel and the white sides of the ship's boats stand out conspicuous. The. rigging, freaWy-toiTOd, looks trim and ship-shape, and the decks have been reduced to as great a semblance of order as the amount of deckgear will allow them to wear. It has been a busy time for officers. and crew, and doubtless one and all; ore glad that their vessel is now .quite ready to set out. in earnest upon her voyage of adventure. During the progress of the work it ia to /be feared that the viators who streamed "aboard the vessel were rather in. the way at times, but in' spite of' this 'tbe instructions prohibiting vinton antil late in the afternoon * were often relaxed, in recognition of tbe cordial interest displayed by tbe people here in the Discovery and her crew. A special service will be conducted on board 1 the . Discovery by Bishop Julius at 11 o'clock this morning, when : the new harmonium wfll be used for the first time: Punctually at two o'clock-the vessel will, cast off from tߣ wharf, on which tihe Lyfctelton /Marine Band will be stationed to S.y. farewell, selectkntts as the. steamer yes. "The two wawhipe is port, H.M.S. Ringarooma- and' H.M.S. iLaztaa, will escort • the Discovery down'the. lharbdur, the Bingarooma going on <with her to' Port Obaimers, . and ' several «xcureion steamers . wSH .. also eccompaay tbe vessel .as .far . the , Heads, The!', members of the . Lyttelton Hasbour Board ]bave chartered' die s.s. Cygn*fc; whfle r the New , Zealand * Shipping Company's eteamer Rimutaka, tihe two Union ©oats, Rotomabana and Tβ Anau, the c.c. John Andenon, end other steamers will carry excursionists wiho wish to bid farewell to the Discovery at •ftie Heada. The vessels will form a procession down (Ate harbour/ iri the foltowiiu*.order:—-' H.M.S. Lizard H.M.S. Ringarooma Discovery, • U.S'S. Oo.'s Steamer tJ.S.S. Oo.'e Steamer -■■.-■ ■ Rimut&ka ,: -, ■•■ •" . • : . Otgnet Other' Vessels. . , -' ' The two warships go out et 9 ».m. to-day for gild practice, returning , in time to escort the Discovery. As in* dicated in "The Presa" yeete?day, the Discovery will call at Port Chalmers to take in coal before bidding a long iarewell to New Zealand. It is possible ■that arrangements may be .made for. a Union Company's ateamp? to r Diecoyery lor' some fifty* m3ea on her' journey southward from Dunedb, m order to still furiifer conserve ber precdoue coal aupply; Nothmg definite, however, said Captain Scott yesterday, has been arranged with regard, to the -tow. After clearing the New- Zealand J coast the vessel will head! southward, and : should be among the ice within ten days. ;It is understood that ( she will coast along the Great Ic&.B»nier in the bjbpe of tracing !it to its terminus, and finding winter quari ters on the sotrtivern side. Should! this plan i fail, the Discovery will* make her way back : towards Wood Bay, where it is known that shelter for the winter can be obtained. : The ship's dogs, which have jbeen in quarantine, will be put on board! the Discovery about nine o'clock thie momiftg, and after, this has-been done the.«beep presented to the expedition . be" tnicen i aboard. Captain Scott's pet terrier, wMch made the voyase out 'from England on the Discovery, will be put oehoro at Quail \ Island, and kept there until vessel re- | turns from the Antarotio. I It » understood that the crew of the Discovery would be only too glad to receive 'a supply of periodicals, illustrated magazines, novels, and other literature. Those having any books or periodicals to give are [ asked to eend them to Messrs Kinaey, Barns and Co.'s office, Hereford street, before ten o'clock this morning. Messrs Kaosey. Barns and Co. have undertaken to .forward all literature left with them, and see that, it is put on board before the ship leaves, : A FAREWmTMESSAGE. - Mr W. W. Collins, M:H.R., is responsible for a very happy? id%* in connection with the departure of the Discovery to-dayT A few days ago- it was suggested that it would be pleasing to the ■members' a of the scientific staff to be able to send a farewell message to their friends fcfefore leaving Lyttelton. With that end in view he communicated with the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward, and also with tbe manager of toe Eastern Extension Telegraph Company. As a result of his efforts he has received the following reply from the superintendent of the cable station at Wakapoakarr—"Have arrange forward one farewell message, providing they supply message and addrewee respective friends." (PRESS ASSOCIATION" TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, December 20. The Discovery will call at Port Chalmers on Monday, and take on board , a load of coal, which has been presented by Mr ; John Mills. The officers have accepted an invitation to luncheon, at tbe Ferahui Club. i -*- -1