JOTTINGS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12970, 25 November 1907, Page 8

JOTTINGS.

One.of the 'moat exciting incidents ef the trip wm the involuntary docking •uetained: by three of the officers, when the Nimrod was a few days out from Capetown.. ? They had : arranged to-do a little bird shooting, and to that end" they requisitioned one of the boats. At the crucial moment, during the launching the falli unhooked at one end, and the officers, who had juat stepped into the boat, were preci/pitated into the eca. - They. were, fished out none f the wbrae for the douche. .. . ■ Though capable of ■ eteaming - only seven knots per hour, tho Nimrod put up a fairly good record on her passage to Lyttelton. On- at least 40 oat of the 108 days taken -to cover the ■ die* ta'ncerfthe steamed and sailed 160.knots and over per day. Ontwo tober 23rd and', November 19th—«lie put up her record, covering-193 knota on each day. " On>ly • com/paratively few days did she fail to do 100 knots in the twenty-four honre. . ' On Friday night last tliose oni the Nimrod had a final taste of the vessel's peculiar in a head sea.'. She pitched into,the £ea and appeared to jump about fourteen times a, minute. It was noticed that one of the cata was sitting on the.taffrailj which drew forth the remark that .'.-it: had .had enough oi it and wanted to get home. "No," remarked;one of the crew,.\«*e is looking for a fair f wind." . - Th» proved the correct interpretation of the cafs attitude, for soon, the crew had to make all sail- . . . Though the Nimrod is spoken highly of by those who voyaged in her,there is no disguising the fact flint <mc knows how to roll, and that- her rail has some unusual peculiarities. net custom was to roll almost to an auglo of 40 degrees, then partially, (recover herself, *nd finish off by. rolling »« almost to tho position she at first rolled to, Consequent upon these high jinks, the deck would be awash almost from stem to stern. Tho cook, perhaps, suffered most on these occasions, and had to carry out his duties with his nother limbs rucased in-big sea boots, the galley boing in an almost constant state of flood. . * Durinjz the passage from London Di. vine service wan conducted on board every Sunday niftht by Captain .England, whose brother, by the way, ia a clergyman. The ventilation of the engine room has l>oen found not to lx> all that could 1* desired, and it is intended to have additional provision mado for ventilaTlie mattreeses and pillowe in.uee on the Nimrod aro stuffed with coir fibre, which, though not so luxurious us down or kapoc. possesses the advantage of resisting damp, and wnen those using them become accustomed to them they find them fairly comfortable. • The scientific men on the Nimrod on the passage from London showed considerable desire to. givo the crew a helping hand. The crew, in-" appreciation of this good-comradeship, dubbed them *ne "amateur sailors' brigade" and "the jnnior rope-htulers." A member of the engine room staff yesterday produced - the ekin (with wings attached*), of a flying-fish. The finny visitor "flew" on board when the Nimfod was passing through tho Tropica, and fate demjed that its flight should end in a ventilating tube, thtoigh which it fell into'the engine room. _With transparent wings outepreafl, it now forms an interesting item in a collection of curios. The zoologist who will accompany the landing party, Mr Mackay, lus had a fairly ♦ventful career. Attached to tin? C.li Vie, ue suit serviw during tJie

South African and Ira has served in the Imperial Navy and Army us medical officer. Boforo leaving "Home ho took a course of instruction in farriery, and is able to shoo a horeo as cai»ably as any farrier. On the trip out ho eecured a largo number of eca birds, which, after they have gone through , tho hands of a taxidermist, will form an interesting feathered collection.

Uie scientific investigations of the Ximrod's biologist, Mr Murray, were a source of nover-ending wonder, not to say amusement, to the crew. "Why," said one A.8., "he used to take little animals out of buckets of sea water. They were so small that we couldn't see them, and how be could eeo them we don't know." Wlmnever an albatross . was pulled on board, Mr Murray worked among the feathers in search of parasites of unimaginable unallness, but considerable scientific interest. •A rumour hae gained currency that there is a probability, in the ©vent of the expedition requiring to be relieved, that H.M.S. Pioneer will be despatched, but on enquiry it is officially stated 'that there is no foundation for the statement. The stay of the Ninvrod in Lyttolton will bo an exceptionally busy time for all on board, ana every day will be fully taken up with hard work. The vessel has a largo quantity of stores and gear on board, besides which there are eight sledges, and also the material for the construction of the hut for the accommodation of the shore party ia the Far South. The whole of the stores and tho gear will be discharged in Lytteiton, and will <be carefully tallied and checked -and thorouglUy overhauled. Included in tho stores is a large quantity of maize, which will form part of the bill-of-fare for the Manchuria.v ponies which are to be taken South. After discharging her cargo, the Nimrod will be placed in dry dock, for a general overhaul, and also for cleaning ajid painting. The Lyttdton Harbour Board lias arranged for dov'krag the vessel, storing her cargo, and berthnge* accommodation, froo of charge.