EXPEDITION'S RETURN TO ENGLAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 19 February 1913, Page 5

EXPEDITION'S RETURN TO ENGLAND

ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEPARTURE. CHEISTCHURCH. Feb. 18. The members of the British Antarctic Expedition are at present busily engaged in making preparations for an early departure for England. . Mr. Francis Drake, secretary of the Expedition, will leave on Thursday- by the Moeraki for Sydney, where he will join the Otranto for Toulon and London. He will probably b e accompanied by Lieut. Campbell," R.N. Commander E. R. G. R. Evans, R.N., will leave for Wellington next Tuesday to meet Mrs Scott, who will arrive in Wellington from San Francisco by the Aorangi on Thursdav. the 27th inst. Lieutenant W. M. Bruce. R.N., a brother of Mrs Scott, will also go north next Tuesday to meet his sister at YVelhngton. Mrs Scott and Lieutenant Bruce will go to Sydney to join the P. and O. steamer Medina for England. Commander Evans and Mrs Evans will leave next week for Sydney to join the Otranto for London. Dr. Atkinson, Lieutenant Gran, and Messrs Wright. Priestly. Debenham and Garrard will also travel to England by mail steamers.

Commander Evans. R.N., informed a reporter yesterday that arrangements for the homeward passage of the Terra Nova had practically been completed. The vessel will be "dry docked shortly for refitting, cleaning and painting, and after taking in coal supplies she will sail from Lyttelton for England on March 15th. She will leave with about SCO tons of coal on board, and will proceed on the Great Circle track from Lyttelton to Magellan Strait, and -will make a call at Punta Arenas 5n the strait. Thence she 'will go to Rio de Janier o for bunker coal and. on to Cardiff. According to the programme mapped out : . the Terra Nova will leave Punta. Arenas on April 26th. Rio da Janiero on May 25th, and she is expected to arrive at Cardiff on July 12th. The above dates are approximate only, and if she is ready in time the Terra Nova will sail from Lyttelton on an earlier date than March 15th. She will proceed under steam and sail, and it is possible that she will improve on the dates mentioned on her homeward passage- if wedther conditions are favourable. The programme has been arranged on a speed allowance of 120 'miles per day. The distances are approximately: Lyttelton to the Straits of Magellan, 4680 miles ; Punta Arenas to Rio de janiero, 2150 miles; Rio de Janiero to Caixiiff. 5680 miles; total, 12,510 miles. The time allowed for the passage is 89 days. The object is to get the Terra Nov a to England as quickly as possible, but if opportunity offers soundings will be made, and dredgings for plankton and other forms of sea- life, will be taken on the passage. Lieut. H. L. L. Pennp]], R.N., will L-» in command of the Terra Nova for the passage to England, with Lieutenant H. E. de P. Renwick, R.N., second in command. Mr. A. Gheetharr?' will act •as second mate, and Messrs G. Nelson and D. G. Lillie. biologists to the expedition, will travel Home in the Terra Nova. Mr. W. Williams, R.N., will continue as chief engineer, and Mr. W. H-drton. R.N.. as second engineer. All the Royal Navy men in the crew, and most of the merchant service .seamen at present on board, will go to England in the Terra Nova.