TO THE POLE BY "SKI"

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14508, 24 October 1910, Page 9

TO THE POLE BY "SKI"

CAPTAIN SCOTT'S DASH.

THE SNOW-SHOE INSTRUCTOR.

Among the passengers who arrived bv'the Maheno from Sydney yesterday were two gentlemen connected with Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition. These were Mr. Wyatt, Who is to act as manager on behalf of the expedition in New Zealand, and Lieutenant Gran, of Norway, who is to. aceompmanv Captain Scott to' the Antarctic, and is to give members of the expedition special instruction in the use of skis, or snow-s"ioes. Those are in general use in Norway and Sweden, and enable the user to get over snow at an exceedingly rapid rate.

Lieut. Gran, when interviewed by a Herald representative, said he would accompany the party, which it was proposed should establish a depot about 86 degrees south, or four degrees from the Pole, and he would then return with the party to the main base at MeMurdo Sound, where the 1911 winter would be spent, and he would there give instruction in the. .use of the skis. lii the spring of 1911 the party of 16. under Captain Scott, would start out on the great journey for the Pole, operating from the depot, established at 86 degrees south. It was, said Lieut. Gran, still problematical whether four or eight, men wohld make the final dash. That all depended upon the condition of the men and other circumstances, and naturally he hoped to be among the selected few. Captain Scott proposed, when the dogs and ponies were dispensed with, to accomplish the final stage by the use of the skis.

With the skis, explained Lieut. Gran, it was possible to do 15 miles an hour over rough country*, and to cover 70 miles in a day of 12 hours was no unusual thing in Norway over bad country. " What you lose in going up a hill," he said,, "you make up in going down the other side. You go faster down hill than even the fastest express train."

Lieut. Gran, further questioned, stated that advantage would he taken of Marconi's offer to fit the Terra Nova frith wireless telegraphy when she returned to New Zealand in 1911. . This would mean that when the vessel got back to the Antarctic and Captain Scott returned from his dash, the news could be at once despatched all over the world. This was subject to the proviso that a wireless station had been established in New Zealand by that time, or a vessel fitted with wireless was then within touch.