ANTARCTIC EXPEDITIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20331, 12 August 1929, Page 9

ANTARCTIC EXPEDITIONS.

DISCOVERY LEAVES HOME.

FAREWELL AT CARDIFF.

CROWD AT HARBOUR ENTRANCE. PRIDE OF DEPARTING CREW. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received August 11, 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 10. Sir Douglas Mawson's ship Discovery left Cardiff to-day for Capetown on the first, stago of her expedition to the Antarctic. There, was a screeching of many sirens from the shipping in port. An Australian ting at the masthead fluttered in a gentle breeze. The vessel presented a majestic picture as she passed into tho Bristol Channel.

It was with obvious pride that the officers and crew lined the deck of tho Discovery and waved farewell to tho crowd of people gathered at the harbour entrance.

It was a coincidence that the Discovery passed another Australian three-masted ship entering the port. There, were mutual greetings as tho Discovery glided into tho grey mist of tho channel. All the members of the crew were well and keen.

Tho ship wai closely searched at tho last moment, but no stowaways were found on board. BROADCAST TO BYRD. MAORIS AT WELLINGTON. EXPLORERS ENTERTAINED. (Received August 11, 5.5 p.m.) United Service. NEW YORK, Aug. 10. [By Mr. Russell Owen. Copyrighted 1928 by the New York Times Company and the St. Louis Post Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to the New York Times.] BAY OF WHALES. Aug. 9. We heard a Maori festival last evening in New Zealand as plainly as if wc had been there, for it was broadcast from Wellington and reached us more clearly than any programme that has come through for a long time. It was so well done that we stayed awake from 11 p.m. until two o'clock in the morning, and were sorry when it Mas finished.

It represented the history of the Maoris since their landing in New Zealand more than GOO years ago, and in song and story traced their tribal life, the coining of the English and the final peace between the two races on the common ground of British citizenship. The ancient songs of the Maoris, to the accompaniment of their primitive instruments and chants and dances, reached us perfectly, with all their wild rhythm. They have never had a more appreciative audience, even although it was an unseen one. We were all in bed, with only candles and a lantern burning, but for the time we seemed far away from the ice.