NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Mataura Ensign, 15 December 1911, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

THE SCECOND BALLOTS

The issue of the. second ballots has been as favorable to the party which

stands for Reform as one could well

have expected. In 30 electorates a eon-

test took place. The Reform party gained 12 of the seats in dispute, the Government secured 10 and of the remaining eight seats five went to the Independents and throo to Labor. Of the individual contests the two that possess the most interesting features are those of Grey Lynn and Parnell. In Grey Lynn Mr Fowlds, who recently relinquished Ministerial rank with the object of forming a party that would support Ins "New Evangel'' of placing all taxation upon land, was defeated by an Independent. Probably no more will be heard of his precious Socialistic doctrines for some years to come. In Parnell as was anticipated! Sir John Findlay who went to woo an Auckland constituency with his nica new title

and a fine assortment of election promises had to bite the dust in a very unknightly fashion. This will probably be the last that New Zealand polities will seo of him. Sir John is a man of great legal and lierary attainments and is equipped with a store of knowledge but in the political world he resembles the brilliant dog that tried to ciimb a tree. From a suspicion of his genuineness electors do not take kindly to him and this second reverse will ik> doubt administer the coup de grace to his political aspirations. In regard to the other seats, Mr Millar won with comparative ease from Mr Bedford though he deserved to meet with a - severe rebuff through his action in raising the "wige : ; of the railway servants immediately before the elect-on. It is satisfactory to notice that Mr' G. M. Thomson was again elected by a handsome majority for Dunedm North, as in the not unlikely event of Mr Massev forming a Government the services which Mr Thomson has rendered to education would make him an invaluable Miniser. It is not necessary to refer in detail to the other elections but it may be "ointe-d out as a verv significant fact that in the five seats in and about Wellington, where the administrative

methods of the party lately in power are more clearly seen than elsewhere, not ft sing.e member of the Ministerial party has received the hallmark of the electors.

FOR THE FROZEN SOUTH. It is over twelve months since Captain Scott and his band of intrepid explorers left Port Chalmers in the Terra Nova and sailed for the frozen South in an endeavor to reach the Pole and at the same time to obtain additional data bearing on many things connected with the little-known world of ice. The expedition was only too quickly forgotten and left alone amid the snows while the world turned to the next big murder or the excitement of a general election, but it is brought to mind once more by the sailing irom Lyttelton this morning on her relief voyage of the Terra Nova. Captain Scott's main party was landed at the base early in January last, and ihe second party, under the leadership of Lieutenant Campbell, was finally landed at Cane Adare in February. The Terra Nova returned to Lyttelton on March 31 and before setting out on July 10 on her northern survey cruise in the vicinity of the Three Kings Islands, was docked, thoroughly overhauled, and repaired at considerable expense. The Terra Nova returned to Lytteleton about the middle of October and was again docked and overhauled la.st month. Below and'aloft the vessel was repaired and refitted, and on leaving Lyttelton this morning was in perfect order for her voyage. During the past few weeks large quantities of new stores and equipment have arrived from England, and have been stowed away on board, together with a complete hut which was originally intended to have been taken South last year for use as an observatory. The stores which are being taken South by the Terra Nova are sufficient, with those already down South, to -upply the needs of the shore parties and the ship's company for another year, if it is found necessary to remain in the Antarctic for that length of iime.

, he Terra Nova has already 490 tons of mixed coals on board to ensure the ship being well supplied for any cruising work she may have to carry out in the South. The vessel is taking down a very large mail for the members of the shore party, who will be looking forward eagerly to receiving news of their friends and the doings of the world during the past twelve months. The cargo also includes a large supply of Christmas delicacies, which have been forwarded from England by relatives and friends of those in the Far South. After clearing Banks' Peninsula to-day, the' Terra Nova will shape her course to the southward, and will make for Cape Adare, in order to pick up Lieutenant Campbell and his party. The ship is expected to reach Cape Adanbetween 'January 1 and 7. and she will then proceed southwards along the coast of South Victoria Land. Lieutenant Campbell and his men will then be landed at a convenient place, and the Terra Nova will make for Granite Harbor, to relieve Mr Debenham and his party, who, according to the originu programme, were to' have gone to the vicinity of Drvgalski Glacier. The ship is expected to nick up this party <»n January 15, and will re-land them further north two days later. After that the Terra Nova will proceed to Cape Evans, the main base of the Expedition, in McMurdo Sound. It' Captain Scott succeeds in his dash for the South Pole, and returns in time, the main shore party will be taken on lxiard It is possible that another shore party will then be landed to carry out important exploration and scientific work in King Edward VII Land. If the main party is not ready to return before the ice closes, it is possible that the Terra Nova may Avinter- in MsMurdo Sound, but, all going well, the vessel should return to Lyttelton in April next.