THE FROZEN SOUTH.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 320, 6 October 1908, Page 7

THE FROZEN SOUTH.

< NIMROD'S SECOND JOURNEY. EXTENSIVE PREPARATIONS. TO' START EARLY IN DECEMBER. , ,(ar TEi.KQiiArii.—srncuL oohkespomdemt.) Christchurch, October 5. The British Antarctic expedition ship Nimrod. has for somo time past been undergoing a thorough overhaul in view of her early doparturo from Lyttolton to bring back Lieut. Shacklotrin and his colleagues from the Far South. Every part of tho vessel has received attention, and in tho words of one : of the c<jow she is now a much better ship than when sho left London. New stays and runniug gear have been extensively installed, tho wholo of this work having been oarricd out by two members of the Nimrod'a company. Tho foredeck has been sheathed with 2}in. timber, which will servo to stiffen that portion of tho vessel and ensure everything being kept dry down below. In tho crew's quarters portion of the hold has beon taken in to provide sufficient accommodation for the shore party on the return voyage, room, being also available for tho. treatment of cases of sickness. On the last journey dpwnitwill be remembered much discomfort was experienced by those on board owing to', the woeful lack of room. On tho outward trip this extra space will be utilised for stowing cases of provisions, and these will bo transferred to the hold as coal supply goes. It is intended to take down sufficient stores for 88 men (tho number including the whole of the ship's company and tho shore party), for twelve months. Provisions were landed from .the Nimrod at tho beginning of this yekr to-suffice tho exploring contingents for two. years. , Supplies selected at Tiome by Mr.. Keid to the extent of 60 tons are coming out by tho Tongariro, in addition to which considerable supplies will be procured in New Zealand. Some 300 tons of coal will also bo taken down. Nimrod will be placed in commission during the first week in November, and is duo to 'sail for tho frozen south on December l!. Captain Evans, who is to take command, is at present in Sydney undergoing his R.N.R.; training, as also is Mr/Macintosh, second officer. Both, with Dr. Mitchell, who is,; spending a holiday in New South Wales, arc expected to return to Lyttelton during tho course of the next three weeks, when tho whole of the ship's company, will assemble, and'tho finishing touches will bo applied to tho preparations for the second southern journey.- With tho exception that Captain Evans. Succeeds Captain England, tho personnels the officers remains unchanged. Tho crew is tho same,'save for. two new hands, .who have been chosen from numerous, applicants, one of these (D. Nelson) having befell on tho Morning. There are four new rofen in the ongineers' department. Mr. Davis (bhief .officer), Mr. Harbord (second mate), Mr. Dunlop (chief engineer), Dr. Mitchell. Messrs. M'Gowan (second engineer), Cheetham (third mate), Bilsby (carpenter), Ansell (steward), Montgomery (cook), Patteii'.and Ellis (A.B.'s) have remained by the ship since her return from tho Antarctic in March last with tho exception of short holiday'tours. ;The departure of the Nimrod early in Docember, instead of in January, has boon arranged in order to economise coal as much as. ppssible in case she is compelled to winter in tho' south. Six or seven weeks are allowed for the voyage, and' it is anticipated that the vessel will sail nearly the wholo distance. The, scientific staff will not bo idle on tho homeward run. A special room has been set aside" for ornithological work, and shortly before leaving a comprehensive collection of birds .will be taken aboard to be skinned and prepared on the journey up. Two large tanks will also bo taken down, and it is hoped by the use of these to bring back a number .of penguins and young seal alive..