THE SHACKLETON EXPEDITION

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 678, 30 March 1909, Page 5

THE SHACKLETON EXPEDITION

THE GOVERNOR'S OON- | GRATULATIONS. (Presß Association). • Ohristohuroh, Yesterday. Among the many cables and telegrams reoeived by Lieut Shaokleton to-day was the following:— "Having myself been away from civilisation, telegraphs, and newspapers, I have only just learnt of your triumphant return. Most hearty congratulations to Murself,' officers, and orew. 1 trust I rnay have the opportunity of meeting you before you leave the Dominion.-PLUN-KET."

THE NIMKOD'S DESTINATION*

Mr J. E. Davis, who has acted as first officer of the Nimrod ever sinoe she was placed in oommission for the purpose of the expedition, takes command of her as from to-day, Onpt. Evans having signed off. MrDavisis to take the Nimrod Home via Sydney and possibly Melbourne.

A LONG-DATED DISASTER,

Auoklaud, Yesterday. Mr Olemeht Wragge says, basing his remarks on the results on the Antarotio expedition; that northerly onrrents may be gradually undermining the high polar plateau of snow and ice, and the time may come; in the lar distant future when the 'weight of the plateau may give l way and cause a tidal wave, produc- • ing far-reaching and disastrous results. "However" he adds, "people need%ot worry, as a tidal wave may not ooour till after a thousand years;" :

A PROPOSAL ABANDONED. ~ OJjristohurch, Last ' A large and representative meeting , of oitizens Voided to accord a pubfhj weloome and reception to the mem-' . bers of the British Antarotio Expedition and set np a committee to arrange details. Whilst the committee was discussing preliminaries Lieut. Adams, one of the members of the Far South party, attended and stated that after Wednesday Lient. ' Shaoklefcon will be the only member" of the expedition in Ohristohuroh. In view of the brief period at 11b disposal the oonratttte deoided to abandon the proposes reception. DARK-ROOM DIFFICULTIES. I PHOTOGRAPHING IN THE ANTAROTIO. / The equipment of the Antarotio , expedition inoluded a nnmber of oameras, as well as the biograph instrument, and a good many photographs of varying qnalifcr have been . bronght baok. Some will appear' in. the illustrated journals at a later date, and others will ba used in connection with the oomioal reoord of, ■'.'■■ the expedition to be published on the return of the members to Great Bri- .'■■■' tain. They will be specially interest- ! v ing, in view of the conditions under : whioh they were produced. Every person who has ever under- : : taken pbotographio work in the winter time.will have. some, conception of the difficulties attendant on an attempt to develop and fix' plates. V in the low temperatures encountered '. < in the Polar regions. There was a dark-room in the winter quarters, v and speoial provision was, made for, ;, heating it, N but even then theiphotographers of the expedition met with ;i a vast amount of trouble. Developers ,;;;, ■and dishes to be-..warmed * and r ■ \ 'i'(' kept at a' reasonable temperature '.;•;, while, wprk ,was; proceeding. This,;' ':'■;■".'; was naturaljy no light taisk when the. '.V' 1 normal temperature of the hut was ■ ".Vfe soaroely 'higher than that of a J wim ter's night in New, Zealand., Tho /.■;::■> drying of the plates , necessitated : ,i extreme oare, lest they should freeze. ; . The piotures that have been . :' brought baok oover all phases of the v !y expedition. The party which made I the wonderful farthest south journey oarried a camera and brought baok - pictures of the regions traversed. The soaroely less important journey to the Magnetic Pole has also brought , '< photographs. Lite at the winter /■ quarters, ,the birds and seals, and snob scenio wonders as mighty ' v 'i Mount Erebus have all been recorded by the oameras. One of the , "star" piotures of the collection -is one allowing the auroral light. In the past It has been considered im- ■ possible to photograph the aurora. Theie were some enthusiasts : M photographers amongst the men who :: took part in the expedition. Two members were travelling over difficulties, so it is told, when one of them slipped down a yawning orevas. He managed to oling to a slight abutment some distance down, while the whole of their equipment, ' with the exception of a oamera and one bit of ohooolate, went down into the dark.depths, the man on the topßeizedthe camera, and shonted •■/;'.■'• down, "Oan you hold on while I get a photograph?" It is not stated whether he snooeeded in getting his picture, but he resoued his oomrade from the orevass with a belt and a , bit of rope.