THE TERRA NOVA

Evening Star, Issue 14524, 28 November 1910, Page 4

THE TERRA NOVA

AT PORT CHALMERS. . Tho Terra Nova was towed in and berthed at the George, street pier at 8.30 last eveuing aftsr an uneventful fineweather trip dowa the.coast from Lyttelton. Tho incident of tho passage was an exchange of cheers between the Terra Nova and tho passing steamer Marama. About twenty boys from tho Amokura, which lay at the Bowen pier, were across at the George street' pjer to see the exploring ship come in, and these boys lent a ready assistance in mooring the vessel. Her decks being considerably below the level of tho wharf, observers could get but an indistinct impression in tho darkness of the ship they had como down to see. Spectators saw more clearly this morning, and the group that lined tho wharf abreast of tho vossel were deeply interested in the voyager to the far southern sea. The Terra Nova is a smart-looking wooden barque of 749 tons, and was built in Dundee in 1884 as a whaler for Bowring and Co., of St. John's, Newfoundland. Her whaling design is still evident in the crow's nest that is perched high np on tho mainmast. Tho vessel's rigging is of wire. Although not very lofty in her masts and spars, sho carries royals both on the main aud lore, but these lineweather sails are not in use, the. yards having been sent do\vn on deck. Tho vessel's rather- tall yellow funnel sticking up amongst a forest of ropes behind the mainmast tends to givo her a crowdedup appearance. This is accentuated on the decks, whore, in the utilisation of space for the purpose of stowing things away, is more suggestive of a furni-ture-removing van at work, titan of the neatness of deck arrangements, with which tho naval uniforms of her blue-jacket crew are usually associated. Immediately abaft tho funnel is tho navigating bridge, on the front <>i which a gilb-letterod lifebuoy bears the initials of the Royal Yacht Squadron, of which the vessel is a unit. The after portion of the vessel's decks are occupied by living and other rooms. The forward decks aro a scene of disorder chained down. Motor sledges are secured by chain lashings, heaps of foodstuffs are tied down with ropes, and the deck is littered with yellow cases marked " Homelight oil' and "motor spirits." A coa.l I hulk was alongside to-day transferring fifty tons of coal to the bunkers, and a similar quantity in sacks to be stowed on deck. Of tho equipment visible to spectators on the wharf—and visitors were vigorously excluded from tho vessel—tho most interesting were tho dogs and the ponies. On the port side of the main deck, just abaft the line of the foremast, tho ponies, grey in color, were stalled. They exhibited great interest in the men going up and down tho companion way in front of the stall, and they strained their necks for a share of a handful of green stuff a, tailor brought them. The dogs exhibited no interest in anybody. About a dozen were eliained on top of tho icC house abaft the foremast, and others were stationed on tho forecastle head. They slept the sleep of indifference, and it seemed as though no interest in life, existed for them beyond the pleasure of sleeping, for sleep was pleasant, judging bv the' expressions of tho sleepers. Suddenly a yelp came from the forecastle head, and with tho quickness of thought every sleeping dog sat bolt upright with a common expression of interest. The yelp war, not repeated and within half a minute every one of those stem-visnged dogs had resumed his happy expression in sleep. The Terra Nova has already a reputation for making nor wa>\r through ice. When she arrived down south to assist the Morning in pulling tho Discovery out of the ice it was a question whether the Discovery- should not bo left behind, the prospect 'of getting her out of the ico was so vague. The skipner of the Terra Nova v.i-.rked out the problem on tho basis of his Greenland and Davis Strait experiences, and the. result was that he asked the. Morning to stand aside and let the Terra Nova have a butt at tho ice that held the Discovery. The Terra Nova butted her way into the icefield for a distance of two miles. She was then close up to the Discovery, which she towed out to tho open sea by way of the caval that her bows had cut, through the The Terra Nova, although apparently very deeply loaded, will have more than sulricie.nl, fro'board to ensure safety. Her draught this forenoon was 18ft Tin. so she will probably leave here about 19ft. or about'P.ft less than her maximum loading;. Amongst the visitors to flic vessel -his forenoon wer.- Mr W. Barclay, chairman of tho Otago Harbor Board, and Mr ¥. W. Plaits. Mayor of Port Chalmers. _ These gentlemen "wen; desirous of providing a suitable send-off for the explorer. Captain Kvans said he would telegraph tho visitors' wish to Captain Scott when informing him that the Terra Nova would be ready for sea at live o'clock this .evening. Captain cVoll, who did not travel down the coast in the Terra Nova, wa.s coming from Christchurch by the first express. Any further procedure in connection wii.b tho proposed scnd-oil was consequently postponed, pending Captain Scott's reply. the sknd-off to-morkow. After the above was despatched from Port Chalmers definite anangcmenls were made a.s to the send-off. The diainnan and members of the Ilar- | bor Board have invited the chairmen of [ public bodies and the respective mayors I to join the Plucky at Poll Chalmers, this I parly leaving Dunedin by tho 1.17 p.m. train. The Plucky will acennrpimy the Terra Nova to sea, and return about 6 p.m. ft is the intention of the Yacht Club to muster ail Uie boats that can attend aL Port Chalmers to-morrow, and take part iu tho send-off fo the Terra Nova. Tho luishfroo will lead the. procession of boats, and skippers of tho respective launches are requested to fall into lino according to .-inc. Colonel Smyth, commanding officer of tho Olago district, will accompany the Terra Nova as far as the Heads. The Jjiuh' Roberts will ho in commission, leaving "Dunedin about noon, and all officers (in uniform) and their wives aro invited to Attend. Tickets for admission may bo had from the District _ Office. Tho Terra Nova is timed to leave Port ! at 2.30 p.m. The Mayor of Port Chalmers announces that arraignments have been made to observe t/>marrow CTwesday) afternoon as the half-holiday tiis v»wek at Port Chalmers. This -will enable tho peoplo of Port Chalmers to witness tho departure of the 'Terra | CAPTAIN iSCOTT. JfASKWELL FUNCTIONS. [Sracxu, TO TUB &TAS.I CIfRISTCnURCH, November 28. Captain Scott and Mrs Scott and Dr Wilson and Mrs Wilson left for the South by the first express this morning. The commander of tho expedition and his wife will leave the train at Port Chalmers, where they will be met by Mrs \Y. A. Moore. After visiting the Terra Nova they will go in Mrs Moore's motor car io her residence at Mornington, and will be her guests while they arc in Dunedin. Dr Wilson and Mrs Wilson will go straight or. to Dunedin. The party will be entertained at dinner at Mrs .Moore's this evening, j and will attend a ball which will be given by Airs Edmoud to Captain Scott and his officers and members of his scientific staff. This will be the last function before the Terra Nova, finally doparhs from New Zealand to-morrow afternoon. Mis Scott -win return to Ghristchtirch by the lirst express on Thursday, and will catch the Ulimaroa at Lyttc-lton the same evening. She will go to Sydney, where she will bo tho guest of Lady Pooro until she leaves Australia in the P. and 0. vessel Morea on December 17. She intends to leave the vessel at Port Said, and, after spending a fortnight in Egypt, will continue her journey in tho Mooltan tt> London. As far as her present intentions arc concerned, she does not expect to -come back tg. New Zc.abuuOiittu}.jkts.oi

tho return of the- expedition is. very uncertain.

Mrs Wilson will return to Canterbury on Wednesday, and. will spend some time amongst friends here before leaving for England. Mr.G. F. Wyatt, the London manager of tho expedition, who is on the Terra Nova now, will roturn lb Christ/church on Wednesday, and with.Mrs Wyatt will go in tho Ulimaroa to Sydney, and will visit Japan and India before going to I^ondon.