ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11842, 20 December 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

SENSATIONAL RUMOURS.CON. : TRADICTED. Tire Antarctic vessel Discovery was placed! in dock at Lyttelton on Dec. 3 for cleaning and recaulking. As the .vessel can take only. 60 of the 250 sheep offered a ballot was. taken among' the contributors,; and a to supply five sheep each were selected. CniusTCiiuKcn, December 6. Statements by London correspondents of . colonial newspapers as to rumours affecting the seaworthiness of the Antarctic ' vessel Discovery wero brought under the notice of ; Captain Scott, to-day. He at once pro-; nounccd them to be sensational and exag- [ gerated in the extreme. The ship had not 1 . been at her best on the voyage out, but ho; was quite satisfied with her seaworthiness, and anticipated that after leaving Lyttelton \ there would be no further trouble. Ho would ill > it stated officially that he . had every confidence in the vessel and was thor-; oughly satisfied with her from the point of view of her sea-going capacity. James Miller, a practical shipwright at Lyttelton, also «couted the sensational rumours. No doubt the vessel leaked somewhat, on the; • voyage out, but that was due 'to her being new and built of hard wood, which did -not swell so quickly as softer material. > When, the few repairs necessary had been effected, the Discovery would go out of. dock as sound and fit for the undertaking as any ship could ; be made. •<„ ■ ' : , ' December 11. The Antarctic vessel Discovery will come out of dock at Lyttelton to-morrow. Last evening the citizens entertained Captain Scott, his officers, and the scientific staff, and to-night the warrant officers and crew , were entertained. Both officers and, men, ' in referring to the statements affecting tb.n vessel, expressed themselves as absolutely . satisfied with her. - - * - ' . v Captain Scott, of the Antarctic explorer, ■ vessel Discovery, has "received a cable from ■ the King, wishing all the expedition God . speed, all success, and safe return. ~