THE AURORA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3007, 19 February 1917, Page 6

THE AURORA

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. kir Ernest Shackletoh's exploring ship, the Aurora, was open to the public on Saturday, and yesterday, "and nas visited by several thousand Wellington peopled A small charge was made for admission to the ship, the pi oceeds being added to the fund that is bdingJraised'>for'the''widow and children of the A. E. Mackintosh, one of the men who lost their lives in the Antarctic last year. ("The visitors were abjs.'-r~inake a.-.thorough examination oTFthe ship and of specimens of the equipment used by the explorers. Members of the returned party ■neie in attendance to answer questions. Much: of the work in connection with the- exhibition had been undertaken bv members of the Commercial Travellers' Club. Much interest was taken in a- sledge which .Sir Ernest Shaokleton has stated his intention of handing to the Citv of Wellington as a memento of his expedition. This sledge belonged original- ( * li to the late Captain Scott, who abandoned it at the Mount Hope, on the Great Ice Barrier, when he was pushing south. It was found by members of Sir Ernest Shackleton's exDedi'7 tion when, thev were laying a depot near Mount Hone, and was used by them during their, lone and perilous return journey. , Tents, sleeping bags and other parts of Polar equipment woio shown in the. Ferry Wharf shed, close, to the sliin. v The dogs, were a centre of attraction. Three of thfjrri had taken part in the long sledging journey of 1915-11;. and the others were puppies in different stages of growth. TC'-rht wonllv little puppieswere guarded jealously by their mother, who did not encourage visitors to appi nidi closely. \ • It is estimated that as a result of the twn days a sum of £370 will bo Tc->lised. S motion lias been granted to the Travellers' Association to hold a raffle for this worthv object, the first time being an enlarged nhotograph of the \mora in the pack-ice. during her long dnft of 1100 miles. The second prize is ,in enlarged niiioeraph photograph of the Poss Sea party. Mr. Jovce has consented to nresent the winner of the first raize with his silver watch worn by' him during his long sledging tour of 160 days—this was the only watch the party had.