The Southern Cross.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7355, 1 November 1898, Page 4

The Southern Cross.

NEW ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

(Daily Chronicle Special.) Bough weather and the fact that the Southern Cross is broad and heavy, like its prototype, the Fram, steaming, indeed, like the latter only nind kaots an hour—prevented the arrival on Saturday, as had been expected, of the new vessel which is to bear Carl Ernest Borchgrevink and his band of Finns and explorers to the Southern Polar regions. No doubt it will be berthed in the Thames to-day, St. Katharine's Dock having been selected as the most accessible for intending visitors, The Southern Cross left Christiania on Wednesday morning last with its full complement of officers, observers, and men, and the process of shipping and equipment will commence' at once. Perhaps no expedition ever left English or other shores so carefully oiganised as this will have been. Sir George Newnes, who has generously made hiu-self responsible for the expense, has allowed nothing to go unconsidered which could materially assist in the work of exploration, or add to the comfort of the explorers. The Southern Cross has been built from designs by Mr Co!in Archer, a Scotai man, who was also architect of Dr Nans en's i famous ship. It is barque-rigged of 481 tons, and fitted with triple expansion engines. The bows are lift, through of solid oak, while the sides, at their weakest part, are just a yard thick. And over the seasoned oak is a "stout ice-hide of American greenheart. There is not a stronger wooden vessel afloat, excepting the Fram itself. Length is given at 146 sft; breadth, 30.7 f t; and depth, 17 6 it. Though scarcely attractive to look at in these days of trim, clipperbuilt sieuth-hounds. of the ocean, Mc Borehgrevink's ship is at any rata serviceable for the dangerous task upon which it is' to be employed That task may, briefly and modestly, be described as a' continuance of the observations already made of the meteorology, the fauna and flora and of organic life within the Antarctic circle. Especially in Australia the meteorological functions of the expedition are expected to be of the, highest value, as, for instance, in the work of forecasting the weather, upon which so much' at times depends. Other, and, even more important, discoveries may, however, be confidently anticipated shou'd the measure of success be achieved whicli the promoters of the expedition deem probable. The scientific staff attached to the .vessel; consists of Sub-Lieut. VV. Colbeck, B.N R., an officer who holds the Extra Master's certi-' ficate, and.haß also worked at Kew Observatory. Mr Colbeck will be first, magnetic, officer, and he will have with him, as second magnetic officer, Mr Louis Bernacchi, of the Melbourne Observatory. The medical officer is fierlof Klovstad, M.A., M. D., of Christiana Observatory. "For zoologists, Mr Borchgrevink has succeeded in obtaining the services, of Mr Nicolai Hansen, who for years has worked at the British, Museum, andi Mr . Hugh Evans, both, of whotn add to their knowledge the necessary experienceof hunting and collecting. Largely Scandinavian in personnel as it may the expedition will sail under the British flag—a flag, by the way, which has been presented to;.it by H.R.H. the Dnke of lork—and the best hopes of Englishmen : will go with it. ' Sailing early in October, the most sanguine estimate of the time of its return is 'placed at two years. The equipment, however, which has already been-detailed in these columns, is' for a considerably longer period. .