RETURN OF THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11857, 2 April 1904, Page 7

RETURN OF THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

THE DISCOVERY, MORNING. AND TERRA NOVA IN PORT.

HOW THE "DISCOVERERS" SPENT LAST WINTER

NARROW ESCAPE OF CAPTAIN SCOTT.

SOME JOURNEYS ON THE INLAND ICE-CAP.

SCIENTIFIC RESULTS OF THE EXPEDITION.

THE VOYAGE OP THE TWO RELIEF SHIPS.

A WHALING CAPTAIN'S EXCITING CAREER.

A more perfect morning could not have been wished than that which broke at Lytt-lton yesterday. There was a smooth S£'a, bright sunsliine, and the merest suspicion of wind—hardly a "cat's paw," as a nautical man would express it. That the Antarctic exploring ship Discovery and her relief sisters the Morning and the Terra Nova, had arrived off the coast, was news a* bright and cheering as the morning itself, and Lyttelton was quickly all astir. Messages were speedily sent to town, and many who had been long on the look-out for the return of Captain Scott and his crew, and the equally honoured men of the relief ships, hastened to the railway, and by the 8.55 train went through to Port. Tlie tug Lyttelton was in readiness, with the Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr W. Radcliffe), the Town Clerk (Mr G. H. Lewiii), tho Harbourmaster (Captain Clarke), and several other prominent men, to take up the Christchurch contingent, and the Lyttelton Brass Band had been summoned also at short notice to play the explorers home. The Hon. H. F. Wigram (Mayor of Christchurch) and Mrs Wigram, the Hon. C. C. Bowen and the Misses Bowen, Mr Frank Graham (Chairman of the Harbour Board), Mr C. Hood Williams (Secretary to the Harbour Board), Mr H. R. Smith (Town Clerk), Mr F, Waymonth and Mrs and Miss Waymouth, Dr. Chilton, Dr. C. Coleridge Fair, Mr F. H. Bams, Captain Hutton, Mr G. J. Smith, Mr T. Murphy, Mr T. G. Russell, Mr F. Graham, jun., and several others were included in the Christchurch parly, and, once on board the tug, swung clear. Caees of apples, baskets of grapes, and other nice things were taken out in the tug, and, just to emphasise the fact that it was Good Friday morning, a generous baker, staggering under a load of hot cross buns, ran down the wharf just too late to get his gift on board. The harbour looked its best, inthe clear morning light, and as the tug rounded the moles and headed for the entrance, the three ships were descried off the Heads, the Discovery being closest in shore, just by Little Port Cooper. On nearing her, flags were hoisted and the whistle shrieked out, the band playing "Tlie Lads in Navy Blue," while hats and handkerchiefs were wildly waved. ' Passing round the stern of the Discovery tho tug mado fast to the port side of the exploring ship, and as the band played "Home, Sweet Home," Dr. Fair was the first man to board her, and otaers quickly followed. Heartiest of greetings were exchanged, and leaving most, of her passengers aboard the Discovery, the tug went on to the Morning, wliere Captain Clarke took charge, Captain Thorpe bringing the Discovery and Captain Brown the Terra Nova. Tlie three vessels were safely berthed just before moon, the Discovery and the Terra Nova, on the east side of No. 6 jetty, and the Morning on the west side of No. 5.

There was a big gathering on the wharves, and for the rest of the day the ships were open to visitors, the captains holding quite a reception. In the afternoon many of tho men obtained leave, and some visited Christchurch.

Intimation that the vessels were in sight from Lyttelton Heads was first received by Captain Clarke, harbourmaster at Lyttelton, shortly before six o'clock in tli3 morning. Captain Clarke getting a telephone message from the signalman at the Heads stating that the three vessels were off the land, and the tug Lyttelton was immediately ordered out. She got away from tho wharf about a quarter to seven o'clock, the two pilots (Captains Thorpe and Brown) going off in her. When the tug neared the vessels-, they were all cfote together, -teaming slowly round in a circle. Captain Thorpe ran up the signal "Welcome", on the mast of the tng, and thiß seemed to bo greatly appreciated by those on board tlie vessels. Captain Drown went off to the Terra Nova to' bring her into the harbour, while Captain Thorpe, boarded the Discovery, the third vessel, the Morning being at this time tome little distance behind the others. In the meantime, Captain Clarke had telephoned to Chrirtclmrch, informing the various members of the Reception Committee of the arrival of the vessels. Several of tho 'members readied Lyttelton about half-past eight, but they remained on the wharf till the arrival of the others by the 8.55 train. Captain Clarke went out in the steam launch Purau at -8.30 to meet the vessels, which were just outside the Heads at that time. The Terra Nova was in the lead, the Discovery being about a mile further cut, while the* Morning was about two miles away to the north of the Heads. Captain Clarke spoke the Terra Nova, and was told that all the members of the expedition were well. ' He then instructed Captain Drown to wait at Camp Bay, and ordered the tug back to Lvttelton. to bring off the members of the Reception Committee, tho trip out being made to the three vessels as above stated.