ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17251, 19 August 1916, Page 10

ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

STEFA If SSON EXPEDITION. SURVEY WORK IN THE NORTH. NEW ZEALAND SCIENTIST’S RESEARCHES. By. Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cabls Association. NEW YORK, August 17. ■Part, of the Stc-fansson expedition has returned to Nome, Alaska, including Dr Jenness, a New Zealander. The schooner Alaska left Bernard Harbour oil July 13, and reached Herschcl Island on July 23. During 1915 a detailed survey of the coastline of the island was completed, and a river was explored for 75 miles. The geology of the country was also examined. Surveys were made east from Cane Barrow around More Bay and Arctic Sound by launch and canoe, returning by sled. As the result, the Bathurst Island charts have been rectified. and over 150 islands have been charter. Tho geological results are encouraging. A great field was mapped.

Dr Jenness spent from April to NoTcmber; 1915, in sledding and packing with the primitive Eskimos of the interior of Victoria Island. He mado an extensive ethnological and axchseological collection, phonograph records and a collection of Eskimo folklore. EXPLORERS’ PLANS. “ ANOTHER. GREENLAND ” FOUND. A NEW YORE, August 17. There is no official news regarding the northern section of tlie expedition, but it; is reported that a schooner has been beached' at Cape Ivellett (on Banks Island) and that another schooner Jias been unable to proceed further north than an unnamed ‘island west of Banks Island. The auxiliary screw schooner Polar Bear, under Stefansson, unsuccessivilly attempted tho voyage along the rest of Banks Island in 1915, and was forced to return, wintering between B,anks ’lsland aud Victoria Island. Plans wore made to spend 1916 iu obtaining moro information regarding the land discovered by Stefansson in 1915. Stefansson and bis party started their exploration in May. They intend to remain as long as possible and spend the summer in the northern islands, rejoining tho Polar Bear at' Melville Island in the fall. It is expected that the Polar Bear will spend the winter of 1916-1917 at Melville Island. The northern party intended to return in 1016,' but it is hardly anticipated that this will be possible owing to tho scattering of the parties. Tho explorers are well supplied for two years. A scientist with tho southern party brought back many tons of specimens. Tho mapping of the Bathurst Island region corrects the errors mado by Sir John Franklin. Dr Andersen reports that Stefansson 1 may not return ‘until 1918. After remaining with tho Stefansson party, Wilkins mado a trip over the ice and joined tho southern party. Stefansson told him that the new land discovered might bo described as another Greenland. DR ANDERSON RETURNED. Australian and N.Z. Cable AssooiatioD. (Received August 18, 6.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 17. Dr Anderson, leader of the northern section of Stefansson’s expedition, has returned to Nomo, Alaska. Over 150 islands were'charted in the region heretofore mapped as Chapman, Lewis aud Maicot Islands in Bathurst Inlet. A great field was investigated, where native copper was widely distributed in extensive quantities. Valuable ethnological and archeological collections were made aud over a thousand specimens of birds and animals were obtained. - DR DIAMOND JENNESS. BRILLIANT NEW ZEALANDER. [Per Prbss Association.] WELLINGTON, August 18. Mr G. L. Jenness, of Lower Hutt, has "received a cable stating that his son, Dr Diamond Jenness, is safe. Dr Jenness is a New Zealander, bom in Wellington and educated at Wellington College and. Victoria College, where lie graduated with honours in classics and - gained numerous scholar ships. In 1908 ho p’cnt to Oxford, entering Balliol College and taking up the study of literae-humaniores and autlircp-oloo-v. In the latter ho obtained his diploma in 1910. His work attracted such notice that in 1911 bo was selected bv the Oxford University Committee of Anthropology to lead an anthropological expedition to New Guinea. The adventures of this expedition amongst the primitive peoples of Papua and the valuable work, done is yet fresh m the memory of scientists.

(The Stefansson Arctic - Exploration Expedition was despatched three years ago by the Canadian Government, with the primary object of exploring the northern base of the Arctic foreland m far north Canadian territory, to determine tho northernmost limits of'human habitation in those regions, and to search for a supposed new land believed to he still further north and west of St Patrick’s Island. The expedition was headed by the noted scientific explorer Vihljalmar Stefansson, who is ji Canadian, born of Scandinavian parents. One of his staff was Dr Jenness, who is from Wellington, New Zealand, whose special study is anthropology. The original party numbered 28 persons, and left Victoria, 8.G., on June 5, 1913, in .the auxiliary screw brigantine Kn-rluk, an old whaling vessel. The Karluk came to grief in tho Arctic ice, about the end of 1913, and in the perils and privations which followed several of the party perished. Stefansson afterwards was given up foi lost, hut news received some time ago showed that he was resolutely continuing liis explorations with two companions, on Banks Island. Several members’ of the scientific party lost their lives, but Dr Jenness and Lr Anderson and others were able to continue their researches, living with the Eskimos.)