ANTARCTIC REGION

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 175, 21 April 1937, Page 13

ANTARCTIC REGION

Desire for First-hand Information WELLINGTON SOCIETY Since, as in the preceding year, no expeditions bound for the Antarctic called at Dominion ports in 1936, the New Zealaind Antarctic Society had little opportunity of gaining first-hand information on matters pertaining to that region, states the society s annual report, to be presented to the meeting of members to-night. It is, however, hoped that during the coming 12 months the research ship Discovery II will put in at Wellington in the course of its present commission, and the society will be able to learn something of the activities of the cruise. During the past year,, states the report, a patron of the society, Sir Douglas Mawson. visited New Zealand us president of the Science Congress held in Auckland. He and his daughter, Miss Patricia Mawson, were the guests of the society during their visit to Wellington. The society had farewelled Mr. R/ G. Simmers, vice-president, awarded a Commonwealth scholarship for a two years’ course of study in the United States, and Mr. A. J. Bland, honorary lantern operator since the inception of the society, who left for an extended tour abroad. An important development had been the formation last year of a-,branch in Dunedin. Interest in Antarctic matters is particularly strong there, and the enthusiastic activities of the branch augur well for its future. It is hoped that the bequest of portion of the library of the late Sir Joseph Kinsey to Canterbury University College will stimulate interest and will result in the formation of a branch of the society in Christchurch.

A start was 'made with assembling a library for the use and information of members and Sir Douglas Mawson donated a first edition of “The Home of the Blizzard"; Vice-Admiral Sir E. R. G. R. Evans, a copy of “South with Scott”; Rear-Admiral R. E. Byrd, a copy of his book, “Discovery” on his second Antarctic expedition; and Miss E. M. Burnett, a copy of “Edward Wilson of the Antarctic.” Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth gave a bound extract from the American Geographical Review’s account of his recent transantarctlc flight. Professor Josef Zukreigal, of the Charles University, Prague, Czechoslovakia, presented a copy of his work, “Cryologia Maris,” a treatise on the sea ice. Rear-Admiral Byrd also sent an autographed photograph of himself, and it is hoped shortly to have photographs of other patrons. A further addition to the exhibits of the society is the skin of an Adelie penguin, which was presented by Mr. R. G. Simmers. It is proposed to have this mounted and lent for display in the meantime to.the Dominion Museum.

Regret is expressed at the death of Sir Joseph Kinsey, of Christchurch, who acted as representative in New Zealand of Captain Scott’s first expedition. His intense interest in Antarctic matters and his friendship wih famous explorers led to his acquisition of an extensive library on Antarctic subjects. The greater portion of this is now ledged in the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, and will be of great interest and assistance to students of Antarctic subjects.