ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11129, 31 July 1899, Page 6

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

IMPERIAL AID PROMISED.

" UNLOOKED-FOR PHENOMENA."

[from OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

London, Juno 23. It takes a great deal to move the Imperial authorities, and some time ago scarcely anyone thought it within the range of probability that Downing-street would help in the work of Antarctic exploration. Yet the oracle has been worked. Yesterday afternoon a large deputation, remarkably representatives of scientific opinion, and furnished by the Royal Society and the Royal Geographical Society, was received by Mr. Balfour at the Foreign Office. The First Lord of the Treasury was accompanied by Sir Francis Mowatt, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury. The object of the deputation was to urge upon the Government the importance of contributing to an Antarctic expedition, so that it might be made thoroughly efficient, which is being fitted out by the two societies. The subject was introduced bv Sir Clements Markham, president of the' Royal Geographical Society, who, speaking of the representative character of the deputation, stated that there were five naval officers present, whs had had Polar experience. It was 56 years sine© Sir James Ross' expedition. Since then there had, he said, been improvements in soundings and dredgings, and, furthermore, the introduction of steam increased twenty-fold, the facilities for such an expedition. It was lor these reasons that Antarctic exploration should be resumed.

When the Royal and Geographical Societies, continued Sir Clements, found that they were not to get Government aid thev resolved, with the sympathy and assent of other societies, to make the attempt themselves. i hey felt that two ships were neces■J.* the had on, raised, with the £40 000 received from the public, sufficient funds for one. He insisted upon the stron" scientific reasons that existed for such an expedition, and also upon the necessity for England to keep in the van of discovery. The societies had been asked to co-operate with a German expedition, and intended to do so.

Sir Joseph Hooker, Lord Kelvin, Professor Ray Lankester. and Professor Rucker each dealt- with scientific aspects of the question. Sir Joseph Hooker, who was described as the last survivor of the Sir James Ross expedition, pointed out Unit renewed exploration would make known the meteorological conditions of this great and undisportion of the earth's surface. Lord Kelvin said the primary object was to explore the southern boundary of the navigable waters, so that mariners mi"ht know how far they could safely go south, and Professors Ray Lankester 'and Rucker spoke of the additions that such an expedition would make to our knowledge of flora and fauna, and to the magnetic ''survey of the earths surface. l Mr. Balfour - in his reply, said he thought lie should not be unduly raising their hopes if he said he believed that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would find it. in his power to give substantial aid to the great project which the societies had on hand. He was not able to form an estimate of the practical value of such an expedition, but he would not have it thought for one moment that scientific investigations, which directly and obviously led to some practical results were the only ones that it was worthy a great nation to pursue. It would not be worthy of an age that, above all ages, flattered itself that it was a scientific age, if it acquiesced without reluctance in the total ignorance that now enveloped us with regard to so enormous a portion of the southern hemisphere of our planet. While lie entirely agreed in all that had been said as to the practical issues that might be expected from any such expedition, he by no means limited his interest to that. He should be greatly surprised if the expedition did not come across unlooked-for phenomena If the expedition were sent forth, as he hoped it would be, adequately equipped, it certainly should add to that satisfaction that they would be able to cooperate with a German expedition animated with the same scientific interest as our own. It perhaps added to the satisfaction, speaking as a politician, that there could be nil territorial rivalry. (Laughter.) He did not imagine that the most ardent advocate of Imperial expansion was likely to find a sphere for his operations in Victoria Land, and the regions visited by the Erebus and Terror. (Laughter.) 'Mr. Balfour, in making his announcement ■of the Government support, to the expedition, intimated that it was not t.<) be taken as a precedent. j