MAWSON EXPEDITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20621, 21 July 1930, Page 9

MAWSON EXPEDITION.

THE NORVEGrA MET.' DISCOVERY TURNS NORTH. REVIEW OF WORK DONE. BY SIR liOUGt-AS MAWS ON. (All rights reserved.) No. 111. As wo made our way along tho edga )f the pack ice to the west-south-west, within sight of land, we saw a conspicuous black rocky mountain on the coast in latitude 66deg. 13min. S., longitudo 51deg. 25mins. E. This we named Mount Biscoe. It rises steeply from tho sea front to a, height of 1600 ft. Most of the northerly face is encrusted with guano from the countless Hocks of Antarctic petrels and oilier sea birds which resort there during the nesting season. Further south, between latitude 67deg. and 6Sdeg. South, a notable range of rocky mountains extends from tho coast to the east. This line of peaks was named the Scott Mounts, to commemorate tho great contribution by the late Captain R. F. Scott lu Antarctic exploration. The highest peak which came under observation was estimated to be (5100 ft. in height. During (lie evening of January 14 whilo steaming west along the edgo of the packice, just out of sight of land, the Norwegian exploring vessel Norvegia hove in sight, coming toward us from the west.At the very moment we were busily decoding a radiogram received from our committee in Australia advising the activities of the Norvegia in the Enderby Land waters, as gleaned from the Norwegian press. The sudden and unexpected appearance of the vessel was altogether' quite dramatic. Visit by Noted Explorer.. As they approached, it was noted that they were deeply laden with coal and had on deck two large aeroplanes. By flag signals and megaphone we learnt that fli.i noted explorer and aviator Captain Riiser Larsen was on board. Presently, in company with their chief otficer, he* paid the Discovery a visit. An hour was spent exchanging views and roughly outlining our respective programmes. So greatly impressed were we with the personality of Captain Larsen that all the ship's company joined heartily in a cheer for the Norvegia as our guests rowed away. It was ascertained that during tho season the Norvegia had been operating in Antarctic waters in close association with the Thorshammer, a large mother-ship of the whaling ileet. Returning along the pack edge to the east on January 16 we passed the Norvegia some ten miles distant heading to tho west. Ship Driven Before Wind. Gradually a strong gale developed, which continued for some days. For two days Captain Davis was able to maintain tlie ship in the coastal waters on the Continental shelf which thereabouts maintains a uniform depth of about 160 fathoms over a considerable area. Eventually the force of the wind and the drift of the ice was so great that the Discovery could hold on to her position no longer and was driven 150 miles to tho wost-sout-b-vest. There the ship was liovc-to in :i big sea. On the morning of January 22 the skv cleared sufficiently to allow sights to be taken to accurately fix the,ship's position. Chief Officer Mackenzie in his early morning watch sighted new icecovered land, evidently a south-westerly prolongation of Enderby Land. Following the pack edge east, it was found to have been considerably changed in position as a result of the gale. When off the Scott Mountains the swell was again too great to allow the aeroplane to take off. The remaining stock of coal was now so limited that return to our coaling base at Kerguekjn was imperative within a few days. Thus we could not tarry in the hope of calmer conditions. The vicinity of Proclamation Island was reached on January 24. Several short flights were made, during which ranges of high peaks were observed rising from the ice plateau in the interior of Enderby Land.

Charting the Coastline. Other short flights were made on January 26 at a point a little further east, a fine view of the interior of Kemp Land being thus obtained. Of the many high peaks observed in the interior some wer« judged to attain an elevation of quite 7000 ft. Reluctantly forced to turn north toward Kerguelen Island we 'nevertheless were still able to spend some time running a line of marine stations north from Enderby Land to the deep basin investigated by the Valdivia Expedition some 30 years ago. The expedition has removed a blank area of about 150,000 square miles from the charts of the world. The Antarctic coastline has been either charted or its location approximately indicated through 28deg. of longitude between 45deg. E. and 73dcg. E. of Greenwich. Evidence deduced suggests that this land is portion of the great continental mass which occupiesthe major portion of the Antarctic regions. The land seen and charted includes the new area designated Macßobertson Land, together with lands further to the west known as Kemp Land and Enderby Land, portions of which, though vaguely reported 100 years ago, were never since* confirmed. The whole of this land and off-lying islands have been claimed for the Crown. A Valuable Whale Fishery. So far as possible specimens of tin* rocks and minerals composing these lands, have been collected for examination and report. These, together with collections made from the Sub-Antarctic Islands visited, amount to several tons in weight. About 750 deep-sea soundings havo been recorded, including an extended scries made in waters off the Antarctic through 35deg. of longitude, throughout which length no previous determinations had ever been made. Also, additions were made to knowledge of the sesfloor around the Crozet Island, Kerguelen Island, Heard Island, and in Urn Great Australian Bight, as well as along the entire ocean track followed by the Discovery. Without any further investigation it oari now bo definitely asserted that off tin*, coast of Enderby Land there exists a very valuable whale fishery. It would appeal" that the Norwegian exploring vessel, Norvegia, located this whaling ground simultaneously with ourselves, l'rom that hs<ierv no doubt millions ot pounds worth of products will be recovered during th* next few years. That discovery alone n worth far more than all the cost of our exploring expedition. In amplification of tins general statement further particulars relating to several of the more important brunches of investigation have been supplied by officers responsible therefor, and appear under their several signatures.