The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1909. THE NIMROD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14982, 30 April 1909, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1909. THE NIMROD.

New Zealand has a personal interest in the sturdy little vessel which made Lyttelton her headquarters while she was engaged in the recent expedition to the Antarctic, and many peoplo in tho dominion, will be pleased to learn that she is to continue in the scientific work she has begun so successfully. It was announced in a cable message from Sidney a few days ago that the Nimrod, before leaving this part of the world, would make an exhaustive search for several islands whose existence lias

not been satisfactorily established. Tho most elusive and mysterious of these dots on the existing charts is Emerald Island. Its discovery was reported by Captain C. J. Ncckells, of the Emerald, eighty-eight years ago, in latitude 57 degrees 15 minutes south, longitude 163 degrees east. Twenty years later the United Statos Exploring' Expedition passed close to the site recorded by Captain Nockells, but saw no signs of land. The existence of the island, therefore, is not regarded as at all certain. In latitude 56 degrees 30 minutes south, . longitude 158 degrees 30 minutes west, there haa been charted a small group called the Nimrod Islands. They have nothing in common with the vessel that will soon, go out to look for them except the name. They were reported by an earlier Nimrod, in a passage from Port Jackson to Rio Janeiro, eighty-one years ago. When Biscoe, the Antarctic explorer, searched for them twenty-three years later he could not find them. Dougherty Island, an isolated speck on the world’s maps, placed approximately in latitude 59 degrees 21 minutes south, longitude 119 degrees 7 minutes west, was discovered by Captain Dougherty, of tho whaler James Stewart. It had a doubtful identity for many years, but it was reported again by Captain Keates, of the Louise, of Bristol, fifty years ago, and he placed it eastward of Dougherty’s approximate position. When the Discovery went from Now Zealand to England five years ago it passed over the site allotted to the island, and found a depth of 2300 fathoms, and Captain Scott expressed a strong opinion that the island does not exist. It is for these islands that the Nimrod will search. Even if she finds no trace of land, she will have ample opportunity of adding largely to the store of scientific knowledge she has been the means of supplying to tho world. While she is on the expedition, for instance, she will call at Macquarie Island, and will remain long enough for scientific investigations to he made there. Although the island is controlled by the Tasmanian Government, it is connected geographically with this country, and zoologically it is certainly within the New Zealand region. It has been visited on several occasions by New Zealand scientists, and the Nimrod expedition should add largely to the information they have supplied. In any case, the vessel’s operations will ho followed with keen interest by New Zealanders, and with warm good wishes' l for her continued success.