SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20708, 4 May 1929, Page 4

SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON.

THE FIORDLAND OF NEW ZEALAND. . (Feom Ouii Own Correspondent.) c ,, T ' • „ LONDON, March 27. • oir Douglas Mawson, who is in’England in connection with the Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition, lectured this week under the auspices of the Royal GeoGraphical Society. The greater portion of his address had to do with the subAntacfcic Islands andr the Antarctic expeditiona with which he has been connected! but first of all he spoke of the fiords of New Zealand. , . Obviously, his sojourn in the sounds on geological work has made him an enthusiast for this remarkable-part of the world. His collection of photographs and moving pictures is a very fine one. and a itrac audience at the Polytechnic Theatre had an opportunity not only of hearing of the marvels of Fiordland, but also of seeing something of them through the medium of the kinema camera. • Sir Douglas devoted, a few words to the economic aspect of the West Coast. It was one of (lie most valuable parts of the British Empire, he said. He mentioned us idea lor tapping the high-level cold lakes by means of a tunnel through the mountains to (ho sounds, thus releasing untold power for hydro-electric installations. The greatest ships afloat could come up to the water y s edge and carry away whatever produce might be manufactured. He instanced the fixation of nitrogen as a possible industry. . Further pictures illustrated a number of the cold lakes, the Milford track, and the various glaciers. Moving pictures of some of the waterfalls were received with appreciative applause. Leaving New Zealand, the lecturer took his audience south to the Masquarrie Islands, and afterwards to tlic Antarctic Continent, showing the life of (he explorers, and, more interesting still, that of the seals, sea elephants, penguins. and. other wild inhabitants of the Southern Seas.