ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION. NEW ZEALAND'S ALLEGED APATHY.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 157, 31 December 1898, Page 5

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION. NEW ZEALAND'S ALLEGED APATHY.

[fbom oub special correspondent.] London, 19th November. Extraordinarily apathetic, Sir Joseph. Hooker told the Royal Geographical Society the other night, had both New Zealand and Australia shown themselves in the matter of Antarctic exploration, though Victoria had promised £5000 towards an expeditiou contingent* on the Imperial Government giving a like sum. Sir Clement Markham, the President of the society, was emphatic in his declaration that the exploration of the Antarctic regions had now become the most important geographical work of our time. There were powerful reasons for urgency, and delay would be a real evil, for other countries did not movei at snails' pace. But the present Government had declined under existing circumstances to undertake such an enterprise. It was said that the naval officers engaged on such an expedition would be out of reach, for a protracted period, during which they might be required for active service. Iv vain bad Sir Vesey Hamilton pointed out that Great Britain's naval supremacy would not be endangered because a few young lieutenants were engaged on detached service. No doubt the views of the Admiralty on the subisot would some day change, but there coula "" be no further delay without deplorable consequences. The Germans would certainly despatch an Antarctic expedition in 1900. Dr. Neumayer, the great authority on terre:.lrial magnetism, had been working for years with this end in view. He expressed a hope that the work would be carried out simultaneously by expeditions from several countries. A steam vessel, specially designed and equipped for Antarctic service, would be built at Bremerhaven. The German Government, wiser than ours in that respect, will belp with funds and in other ways, and would lend officers, even although they might have to go some distance from the end of a telegraph wire. Dr. Neumayer looks to us for co-operation. The question was, were we to hold back? Was this country to resign its proud old position in the van of discovery and exploration ? Our credit was at stake. They would understand now why they could not wait for Admiralty changes of policy. Ib ought to be a Government expedition under naval discipline. But if our navy was to be deprived of her right, the next best thing must be done : they must appeal to the countoy. That was the reason that the Antarctic question was one of urgency. If. we were unable to do our bounden duty, and to take our place by the side of the GewiMm^ Antarctic explorers, our credit as a nation was '2'one. We must, for the first time in our history, disgracefully take a back place. Worst of all, it would nob be from poverty of means, butfrom poverty of patriotic feelinj? among those who possessed the means. But the society oould not believe that, and it therefore confidently made an appeal for funds to equip an" Antarctic expedition. Whatever the fate of that appeal, the duty of the Council was plain and clear. It was to put the facts, and what was involved by them, before the Fellows of the Society and before the country. Still further, the Council had resolved to head the list of subscriptions, even if its name should stand alone. There were numerous calls upon their funds, but they had resolved to strain them to the utmost for that great national work. The Council would head the list with the sum of £5000.

Jupp's Band will give a performance on the Basin Reserve to-morrow afternoon. As it will be the first perform ance in the year, and the band is still c, good deal in arrears with regard to its fund for attending the Palmerston con, test, a liberal subscription is hoped for.,