GIFT OF £l0,000 FOR ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6900, 4 May 1929, Page 9

GIFT OF £lo,ooo FOR ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

Sweet King’s Munificence MAWS ON'S DIFFICULTIES SOLVED Australian Press Association. Received Friday, 10.20 p.m. MELBOURNE, May 3. A gift of £IO,OOO by Mr. Maeßobertson, the well known confectionery manufacturer, towards the forthcoming Antarctic expedition, has solved the major difficulties. It is described as a most opportune gift. The official title of the .expendition will be the British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic expedition. It is definitely arranged that the Discovery will bo loaned by the British Government and will sail from Capetown fpr the Antarctic.

DUKE AND DUCHESS VISIT DISCOVERY. ANTARCTIC RESEARCH SHIP. British Official Wireless. RUGBY, May 2. The Duke and Duchess of York and Prince George visited the West India Dock this afternoon and inspected the Royal Research ship Discovery. Their Royal Highnesses were conducted over the ship by Sir Douglas Mawson, leader of the expedition to the Antarctic, for which the Discovery is now being reconditioned. Mr. Amery, Dominion Secretary, the High Commissioner for Australia, and a "representative of the High Commissioner for New Zealand were also present.

Research and Survey THE SHIP DISCOVERY. NEW VESSEL TO BE BUILT. LONDON, March 19. Sir Douglas Mawson, who is now in London, is to have the Diseoveiy for the Antarctic expedition, wbicli is being promoted by the Commonwealth of Australia. To replace the Discovery the British Government has sanctioned the construction of a new. ship for scientific and survey work in the Antarctic. The provision of the now vessel will ensure that there is no interruption of the work of the Discovery Committee. Every effort will be made to maintain the closest co-operation between the Australian work and that already in progress under the Discovery Committee, and a member of the Discovery staff will bo seconded for service with the Australian expedition. The new vessel will be a steamship with a superior radius of action, and jvill be able to undertake long ocean traverses, for which the Discovery is not well suited. The principal dimensions of the new vessel arc: Length overall, 232 ft; length on load water line, 220 ft; breadth moulded, 36ft; depth moulded, 20ft; draft, loaded with oil fuel, fresh water, scientific instruments and provisions, not to exceed 16ft; estimated displacement of the above draft, 1690 tons. The propelling machinery will consist of one sot of main engines with 1.11. P. of about 1300. The boilers will be two in number, oil-fired, the bunkers carrying sufficient oil fuel for 6000 miles at full speed and for 9000 miles at economic speed. A 1} k.w. Marconi shortwave wireless installation will bo fitted.

Modem Apparatus. .The vessel will be equipped with the most modern apparatus for sounding and for the biological and chemical investigation of southern Echosounding gear will bo installed, and a specially designed winch, carrying 5000 fathoms of wire rope, for -working largo nets at any depth. For small nets and hydrological observations three auxiliary machines will be provided. The vessel will contain largo biological and chemical laboratories on the upper deck, a photographic room, and a survey office, together with workship, store rooms and other accommodation necessary for the intended service. In addition to a full complement of executive officers, she will carry a scientific staff of six and a survey officer, the total of officers and crew being about 50. The vessel is being constructed at Port Glasgow by Messrs Ferguson Bros. (Port Glasgow), Limited, to tho order of tho Crown Agents for the Colonies, and under tho supervision of Messrs Flannery, Baggallay and Johnson. Tho investigations under tho Discovery Committee, which wore started in 1925, are still in progress, and the loan of tho Discovery to the Commonwealth Government will not involve any interruption of tho operations of the scientific staff. They deal both with hydrographic survey for the purpose of facilitating navigation, and with investigations into the life history of whales with a view to tho adoption of a rational basis for their exploitation. Similar Research is directed to tho possibility of founding or developing fisheries, and to tho general oceanographic investigations. The William Scorcsby, a vessel designed somewhat on the lines of a commercial whale-catchcr, but of a size and equipment permitting her to conduct marine biological research, is still at work in tho Antarctic. The Discovery was acquired as providing, as far as financial resources permitted, a vessel capable of perfecting the duties of the two ships whose use was recommended by the Interdepartmental Committee. It is anticipated that the investigations of the Australian expedition will occupy two seasons—from the summer of 1929 to the summer of 1931.