REINDEER FOR SLEDGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15500, 6 January 1914, Page 7

REINDEER FOR SLEDGES.

OPINION OF AN EXPERT. PACK ICE DIFFICULTY. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received January 5, 10.30 p.m.) London, January 5. In the opinion of Mr. C. E. Borchgrevink, the famous explorer, who worked for six years as a surveyor in Queensland and New South Wales and went to the Antarctic in 1898 to 1900, Shackkton would be wiser to use reindeer for sledgo work. Motor-driven vehicles are apt to waste time.

Mr. Borchgrevink thinks that Laplanders and experienced dog sledge drivers should form part of the expedition.

Mr. Mossman, a member of Dr. Bruce's expedition to the Antarctic, is of the opinion that Sir Erne3t Shackleton's chief difficulty will be in traversing the area of pack ice of possibly 1100 miles along the route.

Captain R. Amundsen has telegraphed to Sir E. Shackleton his warmest wishes for the magnificent undertaking.

Shackleton, in an interview on Saturday approved of Dr. Marshall's suggestion that as day and night in the Antarctic were merely artificial distinctions, a 19-hours' day should be adopted, thus saying 35 hours a week. He added —" We will abolish the clock, the calendar, and everything except the sun. We are testing a new metal, with a view to saving 30lb per sledge, and enabling them to carry 600lb more stores of food.