ELABORATE PREPARATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17890, 19 September 1921, Page 5

ELABORATE PREPARATIONS.

MESSAGE TO DOMINION. [FBOM OUB OWN COSfiESPONDENy.] liONDON, Aug. 5. It will be some months before Sir Ernest Shackleton and his party in the little Quest arrive in New Zealand waters. By then the party will have sailed in unknown seas. In the meantime Sir Ernest sends this message to the Dominion:—"l am looking forward with the greatest pleasure and anticipation to meeting old friends in New Zealand about the end of next April." Preparations on the Quest ar e nearly complete, and the vessel will leave Southampton for London probably this week. The British Admiralty, recognising the value of the contemplated work, is lending an ocaanographieal

equipment, and the Air Ministry which is also taking great interest in the venture, is training at Pulham two officers, who are undergoing instruction in kite and balloon work. The Prince of Monaco, a distinguished oceanographer, is lending a quantity of equipment to the expedition. Some interesting work has just been concluded in the Quest. Sounding platforms have been built, which will enable the scientific staff to sound the ocean to a depth of six miles—half a mile more than has ever been done before. The laboratories have now been completed, and special deck arrangements made for the housing of the seaplane. The masts of the vessel have been lengthened, and the ship transformed from a schooner into a brigantine. Arrangements have been made so that the vessel can steam for 10.000 miles without re-coaling. The staff, originally fixed at 15 officers, has now been increased by four. Every officer on board has seen war service in the front line. In case of need no fewer than four of the officers of the expedition will be capable of directing the seaplane operations. Two cinematograph men instead of one will be among the staff. The Quest, which 'is less than 100 tons register, was built in Norway in 1917 for sealing in the White Sea, and is therefore specially constructed for withstanding ice pressure, the hull being of timber and the bows strengthened with steel. She was originally named Foca 1., and was owned by Captain Ingelbrightsen. Eer commander then wa s Captain E. D. Eriksen, a very wellknown Norwegian seal hunter, and Sir Ernest Shackleton has secured the services of this gentleman as gunner and chief hunter to the expedition. One feature of exceptional interest is the storing of the seaplane. On the port side, under the boat deck, the fuselage of the baby Avro seaplane will be slung, and the engine and wings will be stored in the foreholds. In the engineroom there will be fitted a 5-kilowatt dynamo, and there will be a wireless set, which will have a radius of 400 miles bv day and 1000 miles by night. There will be one lOin. searchlight' on the bridge, and the interior of the vessel will be electrically lighted throughout by a Lalley lighting set. The forecastle has been rearranged as a biological laboratory and_ photographical darkroom?. Sir Ernest Shackleton was received a few days ago at Buckingham Palace by the King and Queen, to whom he described his plans for the coming expedition. Their Majesties, who showed great interest in the plans of the explorers, wished him God-speed, and commanded him to convey to all the officers their best wishes for success. The King also commended the generosity of Mr. John Quiller Eowetjß, of Ely Place, Frant, Sussex, which has made the expedition possible. The King gave Sir Ernest a silken Union Jack, to be carried by the expedition and afterwards to be returned to him. His Majesty also expressed a wish to see the second in command, Captain Frank Wild.