CAPTAIN AMUNDSEN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 96, 23 April 1912, Page 2

CAPTAIN AMUNDSEN.

ARRIVAL AT .AUCKLAND. . fBZ TELE&RAJ?H-*l?B,teSS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND* 22nd April. Captain Roal^ Amundsen arrived in Auckland from ' Sydney % the Maheno yesterday. tin appearance he scarcely realises the popular iclea of an explorer. Lithe and «inewy in 'figure,, he doe« not euggfest any reserve power of exceptional physical endurance. His stay in the Dominion will be 'very brief, for he- is obliged to kavjßi by the, Remuera for Buenos Airesw In the course of conversation with an Auckland pressman, the topic naturally veered round to the recent Polar dash.' "Yes, but there is not much that I can say,' 1 said the captain, his benevolentlooking features meanwhile lighting with that slow smile of his. One wonders how much of mental reservation there lies behind it. The first impression which one gathers upon meeting the explorer is one- almost of astonishment. When* is the fierce-eyed, hard-bitten, brawny-limbed conqueror of Nature's mobt hostile fortress? The famous Norwegian, though fairly broad of shoulder, and well set up enough, conveys a sense of almost well-to-do benevolence — a main of about middle age., blepeed wjjih pretty robust health, and indulging a 'quiet desire to travel round places and see things comfortably. It is only when one more closely inspects him, and notices the oc-. casional glint in. the plain blueleyes that one suspects Captain Amundsen in tourist tweeds and Captain Amundsen in Polar furs to be two personalities, both kindly by nature and interesting, but difficult 'to recognise, in casual glances, as the ono and indivisible same. Although the explorer modestly denies having much to say, the thaw of conversation I'eleaGGß sufficient to arouse a distinct feeling of Enmity for the clock on. the part of his listener. The superiority of dogs and of *>kies for Pojar exploration work was broached. "Ah, yes," he declares involuntarily, "there can bo no question! about the v v »lue of dogs. I cantiot understand, any-, one choosing horses in preference. They are so light; they do not sink into the sttft snow, and they require comparatively little to eat. Their energy, too, i» eshaustless. W© could .not^kcep up with our dogs — they wore e'o willing. You see the immense value in being able to conserve all your energy instead of having to use it in _ hauling sledges. You surmount difficulties t^iat, to wornout men,; seemß Wsurmouhtable, ' and; your spirits .remain buoyant.' That' is a very great thing down in tho Antarctic, you know," and he smiled reminiscently. "Yes, and the skis! With them you can cross crevasses with impunity wheru men in heavy boots would labour with danger. All Polar explorers should be expert eki-men. In. Norway we put skis on our horses in the winter, and it is astonishing , how * 'ftUickly they become .nbed ,to r lhem,j, I •notice. Jthat i<Jio leading ponies wore skis in- Captain. Scott's expedition, and I , think they 'should have ' all worn them." Thereafter the ( captain .declined! to be led on to further; discussion 'of the British expedition, beyond expressing the conviction thdi Captain Scott would have no difficulty in reaching the Pole. What about the- awful silences of th© Antarctic, which are eaid to affect' one's sleep? He smiled, again. "Silenfce, yes, but I love it. I am used to it. I cannot imagine how it could prevent one from sleeping. I think, indeed, it is what you call exaggeration." . ■ In speaking of th& two routes— the* one he chose and that by way of the Beardmore Glacier taken by Captain Scott-— the Norwegian discoverer was reticent in making comparisons. "When I am in "Ohristchurch 1 shall talk the routes t>ver with, tho members of Captain Scott's ex■pedition, but if the time occupied in climbing the 1 Beardmora Glacier proves to be what I have been told, I begin to wonder if mine was the easier route. We were fortunate in not meeting any great blizzards, but I suspect that our dogs and knowledge- of using skis had much to do with, the rapid progresses which we were able to make." Captain Amundsen lectured on* his journey to the , South Pole to a great audience iv the Town Hall to-night; The explorer h.\d a- most enthusiastic reception, and .is welcomed by the Governor oil behalt of the country and the city of Auckland. " ■ |t!aptain Amundsen 'will lecture in Wellington to-morrow, night.] ,