ENTERTAINED.

Feilding Star, 5 April 1909, Page 2

ENTERTAINED.

SHACKLETON EXPEDITIONBRS. LEADER DISSATISFIED WITH RESULTS. [P£H PRKBS ASSOCIATION.} Christchurch, April 4. Members of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury entertained at a complimentary banquet on Saturday night Lieut. Shacldeton, the shore party and officers of the Ninxrod. The function was attended by a number of representative citizens in addition to members of the Institute. Mr Edgar R. Waitc, president of the Institute, presided. Amongst those present were the Hon. D. Buddo (representing the Government), Bishops Julius and Grimes, Mr G. M. Thomson, M.P. (Presidi-nt of the New Zealand Philosophical Institute). Apologies were received from the Governor, Sir J. G. Ward, Mr Laurenson, and others. • In proposing the toast of the British Antarctic Expedition, the ' Chairman eulogised the work accomplished ' and stated that the Institute had j formed the nucleus of a library of I Antarctic literature to which Lieut. ; Shackleton presented several volumes as a memento of the Nimrod expedition. Mr Mawson would be associated with Dr. Fair in determining the radio activity of certain rocks brought j back by, the expedition, and Lieut. J Shackleton had asked a gentleman in Christclmrch (it is understood it is Mr • AVaite himself) to determine the fishes brought 'back from the Antarctica. Lieut. Shackleton was given an ovation on rising to respond, all present lumping to their feet'and cheering him to the echo. He thanked them on behalf of his comrades and self for the enthusiastic reception and for the feelings he knew were in the hearts of the whole of the -people of New Zealand towards "this little expedition." Looking at what wtag done, he always felt dissatisfied, and felt he might have done more, but on that Polar plateau, with no grub inside them and thinking of the long distance they had come, they looked at things and saw they could not go further, and so were forced to turn back. Un the plateau there were none of tie luxuries that made life pleasant, but they had struggled 1 along more or less successfully. What' had been done had been accomplished not by one or two men, but by the co-operation of all belonging to the expedition. Regarding the southern journey, he saw that it was through, the experience pined under the Discovery that it had been lwssible for them to go a bit further. He hoped if the South Pole was reached it would be by a Britisher, and lie trusted the work done by his expedition would be useful in the object being attained.