ANTARCTIC POST OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 76, 23 December 1907, Page 8

ANTARCTIC POST OFFICE.

SET OF NEW ZEALAND "POSTAGE. ■ .STAMPS.;', -■ .'- .' LIETJT.' SHACKLETON'S CHARGE.' . Whon -. Liputenant 'Shackloton sets out from his baso in the Antarctic regions for his final dash to tho South Polo he will carry with him a little hra.ss-.caso, not unlike a ' cartridge case. Should he succeed in- reaching ," the.'! Polo^-as,-' being''better equipped • than other, expeditionists, he. fully hopes to do—he';will • bury .'this case'at the mystic spot.' New Zealanders will then have the satisfaction of knowing, that at. the South Pole has been placed-a complete; set of Now Zealand postage stamps.'- ' : ' This little' memento has been presented to Liouteuant- Shackloton by the Premier (Sir Joseph . Ward). In addition to one stamp of all the various denominations, thore lias also been placed inside the caso'a miniature Now' Zealand. flag, worked in silk by Lady Ward, and containing round its edges the initials of tho Premier and Lady Ward, and the names of all the members of the family. Tho case- itself, is inscribed on the outside as follows: —"Specimens of Now Zealand stamps. Presented to Lieut. .Shackleton leader of the British Antarctic Expedition, 1907, by the Right Hon.-Sir Joseph 1 Ward, P. 0., K.C.M.G., Primo Minister of: New Zoaland."- There will also be. added some indication that the flag inside is . that of Now Zealand. '•"'• ■_' "I have also officially appointed Lieut. Shackleton a .postmaster of the Dominion," remarked Sir Joseph Ward with a, smile to a,Dominion representative, "so thit.should the expedition bo'successful there "will fee a branch of the New Zealand@Post Office nominally established at the South Pole." ' In" connection -with the: .Premier's announcement at Martinborough'-.regarding-the Post Office at [King Edward VII Land,' Sir Josoph Ward explains that' the stamps to be used will bo of a special; kind;-and will be over-printed, and 'a charge will bo made for thorn.-: Letters, will be, posted by members of tho expedition, arid the stamps officially. cancnlled 'by Tostmaster Shackleton. Their delivery is likely to be 'long delayed, but''their'eventual arrival many anxious , ones. twill await; and many ..< keen philatelists will no doubt bo on the/ watch for the new curiosity in'stamps.' :