The Antarctic Relief Expedition.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7792, 17 March 1904, Page 5

The Antarctic Relief Expedition.

Regarding the anticipated arrival shortly of the Antarctic relief expedition', it is of interest to wo-t. tho experiences with regard to tho formation of the ice, met wiuli by the Discovery and the Morning. It was <m February Sth, 1902,' that the .Discovery .took up her winter quarters in MeMurdo Bay. Then the edge of the ice was live mile, inland. When tte Morning sighted the Discovery on January 23rd, 1903, there was ten miles of ice between the Discovery's anchorage and the edge of the pack, that is, the edge of the ice was fifteen miles from its-position when the Discovery tool, up hor winter quarters in 1902. By February 26th, 1903, live miles of the ice that separated tuo two ships had broken away. After this no change was effected on the state 'of the ice by the Cipavicst gales. On March 2nd tlie ice had begun to pack up, and the Morning left for lyttelton, arriving at that port on .he 25th- of the same' month, / the voyage '.having occupied twenty-three days. The relief expedition, consisting of the Terranova and the Morning, is to remain in Antarctica until the Discovery is able to extricate herself from the ice. Tn the event of her not being able to do so, her officers an-d crew are tO be transferred to the relief ships, which will then- sail for Lyttelton, and not run any risks of being imprisoned in the pack ice. Assuming that this year similar conditions to those of last year have obtained in Antarctica, the expedition should at present be on its return voyage to lyttelton.