MAWSON ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8171, 12 July 1912, Page 1

MAWSON ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

AURORA REACHES LYTTELTON

Interesting story of southern cruise

teess association. CHRISTCHURCH, .Tilly U. 'ILo A ii In ret i c: exploration vessel Aurora, will'll a. leu - moot In buck conveyed :i. scieii lilio expedition mulct- Hie leadership of Ur Muu-M.li to the tor l-ioutli. returned from her winter cruise to-diiv, and reported all well. The vessel is under the command of Captain -I. K. Davis, and carries on board -Mr Edgar If. Waite, curator, and -Mr L. .1. Haynes, taxidermist, of the Canterbury Museum, (,'liristehurcli, also Ah- If. Primmer, cinematographer, representing the Ganmont Compnny. 'I ho Aurora, is sail ins in the interests of Ur Mawson’s Ausl ra lasian Antarctic .expedition, and not heins required until November next, wbeu she will, return to the ie.o to hrins the leader and parly back to Australia, was fitted out to conduct scientific, investigations in the sublAntaretic seas. SEARCHING TOR ISLANDS. Tho vessel sailed from Sydney on May 17th, and proceeded by way of Bass strait to the MOtli meridian, which was reached ten days later. When in Iho latitude of the reported Royal Company s islands, tho vessel was turned eastward, and four days were spent in searching for tho islands, tho work being supplementary to the search made by Captain Davis when in command of Sir Ernest Shacklcton’s ship tho Nimrod. Two different positions bavo been assigned to tho reported islands, both of which have now been thoroughly exploited but on neither occasion was any trace of land discovered. Captain Uavis wavs definitely that tho islands do not exist, where laid down on tho charts, but mentions that .even in the relatively clear weather encountered off Macquario Island this was not seen from a distance of eight miles only; so that, it is still possible that there may he land in fho vicinity. Very boisterous weather precluded the possibility of making soundings, for such could probably have given Indications of shoaling had land been, in tho neighbourhood.. Not a single day was tho sea sufficiently moderate to iustify the uso- of the sounding machine, Vint, not wishing to fail for want of trying, several attempts were made, resulting in the loss of gear and on one occasion of 2000 fathoms, of sounding wire. To even attempt to use the trawl won absolutely out of the. question, while the absence of light prevented the use of Hie cinematograph, even had it been possible to stand tho instrument on the deck of the lively vessel. DR M AWSQiVS PARTY 1 WIRELESS WORKING WELL. Macquarie Island was reached on Juno Bth, when the five men constituting Dr Mawson’s Macquarie Island party wore found to bo well and doing B<?od work. Tho wireless station is working admirably, daily weather reports being sent to Melbourne. Hobart, and AVcllington. Messages are caught as lai as Fiji, and West Australia, and tho expedition and general news messages are daily received from Sydney. The violent and persistent gales and tho excessive humidity interfere with tho installation imd insulation, and-demand the constant attention of tho engineer. Twice have tho arials had to bo re-erected, having been blown down. The freezing,of the water cooling the petrol engine is also a, source of trouble. The operator believes that his messages aro received at the base in Antarctica, but owing to tho unfortunate damn go to part of tho apparatns ho is unable to transmit messages to Macquario Island. SEA ELEPHANTS AND SEALS. Quito contrary to tho statement which recently appeared in tho newspapers to the effect that die sea elephants have been well nigh exterminated, these animals were found to he very abundant, hundreds having been seen during tho brief stay of the Aurora, both at North East Bay and Lnsatania Bay. Examples of tho more solitary seols known as» sea .leopards—perhaps tho most bcautifuTseal in tho world —wore occasionally seen on tho beaches, whilo king penguins, together with their downy young ones, roved about in the quaint manner peculiar to penguins in general. At this season the young birds are nearly as largo us their parents, or appear so from tho circumstance that they aro covered with long coffec-coloured down. Maori liens imported to Macquarie Island from Now Zealand many years ago have multiplied to such an extent that they may be scon on the beaches in scores, running to tho shelter of tho tussocks when molested ; otherwise they are perfectly trusting and most inquisitive.. Fierce winds blew almost incessantly, whilo snow, hail and ,frost added to tho discomfort and engendered no envy of tho position occupied by the party. AT AUCKLAND AND ENDERBY , ISLANDS. “We left on Junb 22nd,” said a member the Aurora’s party. "Continued heavy weather accompanied us to tho Auckland Islands, the anchor being dropped in Carnloy Harbour two days later. “On June 20th we arrived at Port Ross, remaining there and at Enderby Island until July 6th, when, tho course was set for Port Chalmers. ‘‘Dredging was done in tho sheltered harbours of tho Auckland Islands, and two attempts were made with the trawl in the open sea, first off the east side of Macquario Island, when wind and wave carried us so rapidly off the land that with the suddenly deepening water wo failed to place the trawl on the bottom before a freshening wind and rising sea compelled us to haul the trawl inboard as vapidly as possible. The second attempt was made the day we left the Auckland Islands, but encountering a rocky bottom the trawl was damaged and the net torn, thus liberating any specimens which might hare been secured.” VALUABLE COLLECTIONS. Mr Waite and his assistant have secured valuable collections tor tho Canterbury Museum, and the curator is pleased with his endeavours in this direction, remarking that it is the first series obtained for tho museum for many years past. Some of them are entirely new fo the collection, notably the sea elephants, one specimen obtained being nearly 17 feet in length, and weighing when alive considerably over a tun. WEATHER. TOO BOISTEROUS. Interviewed on the work of the cruise, Captain Uavis stated that judging from

his previous experience in these latitudes at this time of the year, he was prepared for a good deal of boisterous weather, but had hoped for at, least some moderate days, but even these were-not forthoom ing. and tile way in which the little vessel weathered the many gales says mneh for tho '-staunchness and seaworthiness of the old whaler. Captain Davis was pleased To find that Mr I/, it. Blake \)iad already made a hydrographical survey of the northern end of tho island, \ which was supplemented by soundings piade from the vessel whilo at anchorage off North Boy. The present, cruise, being tho initial one conducted by the vessel, was. largely in tho nature of n. trial, and it is satisfactory to find that with tho exception of-one or two small defects the apparatus specially installed for tho -purpose., gratuitously by the Government of south Wales worked to complete satisfaction. Captain Davis is of opinion that tho next erniso projected for tho coming spring will bo more successful,, for weather conditions aro likely to bo favourable for marine work, more daylight and smoother seas being essential for deep sea work in these .latitudes. yfr Primmer stated unhesitatingly that he is much disappointed' at not being abio to secure moving pictures of popular interest. The light in;tho southorn seas at this period of .the year, even in tho middle l of the dayy has practically no value for cinematography. Moreover, as; it is, is very short, whilo sunlight is virtually allsent, only two hours\being recorded during tho period' of fourteen days spent nl tho Macquario Island. > Mr Primmer fell bound to make an attempt pn some interesting subjects, but- bo ! much fears under-exposure throughout.