ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20706, 2 May 1929, Page 6

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

" DISCOVERY ” LENT TO ‘ AUSTRALIA. CO-OPERATION OF THE TWO EXPEDITIONS. {From Our Own Correspondent.) ■ c . n i LONDON March 19 air Douglas Mawson. who is now in London, is to have the Discovery for the Antarctic expedition, which is being promoted by the Commonwealth of Australia To, replace the Discovery the British Gov-" eminent has sanctioned the construction of ? neiv. ship for scientific and survey work in the Antarctic. The provision of the new vessel will ensure that there is no interruption of the work 'of the Discovery Committee. Every effort will be made to maintain the closest co-operation between the Australian work and that already in progress under the Discovery Committee, and a member of the Discovery staff will be seconded for service with the Australian expedition. The new vessel will be a steamship with a superior radius of action, and will be able to undertake long ocean traverses tor which the Discovery is not well suited The principal dimensions of the new vessel are:—Length .overall, 232 ft; length on load water line, 220 ft; breadth moulded, 36ft; depth moulded, 20ft; draught. loaded with oil fuel, fresh water scientific instruments, and provision not to exceed 16ft; estimated displacement the above draught, 1690 tons. The propelling machinery will consist of one set of main engines with i.h.p of about 1300, The boilers will be two in number, oil-fired, the bunkers carrying sufficient oil fuel for 6000 miles at full speed and for 0000 miles at economic speed A 11 kw Marconi short-wave wireless installation will be fitted. MOST MODERN APPARATUS The vessel will be equipped with the most modern apparatus for sounding and for the biological and chemical investigation of southern waters. Echo-sounding gear will be installed and a specially designed winch, carrying 5000 fathoms of wire rope, for working large nets at any depth. For smaller nets and hydrological observations three auxiliary machines will be provided. The vessel will contain large biological and chemical laboratories on the upper deck, a photographic room and a survey office, together with workshop, storerooms, and other accommoda tion necessary for the intended serviccIn addition to a full,complement of executive officers, she will carry a scientific staff of six and a survey officer, the total of officers and crew being about 50. The vessel is being constructed at Port Glasgow by Messrs Ferguson Bros. (Port Glasgow), Ltd., to the order of the Crown agents for the colonies, and, under the supervision of Messrs Flannery, Baggallay. and Johnson. The investigations under the Discovery Committee, which were started in 1025. are still in progress, and the loan of the Discovery to the Commonwealth Government will not involve any interruption of the operations of the scientific staff. They deal both with hydrographic sur vey for the purpose of facilitating navigation, and with investigations into the life history of whales with a view to the adoption of a rational basis for their exploitations. Similar research is dnectcd to the possibility of founding or developing fisheries, and to general oceanographic investigations. The William Scoresby. a vessel designed somewhat on the lines of a commercial whale-catcher, but cf a size and equipment permitting her to conduct marine biological research is still nt work in the Ant arctic. The Discovery was acquired as providing, as far as financial resources permitted, a vessel capable of performing the duties' of each of the two ships whose use was recommended by the Interdepartmental Committee. It is anticipated that the investigations of the Australian expeudition will occupy two seasons—from the summer of 1929 to the summer of 1931.