DISCOVERY RELIEF EXPEDITION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9847, 14 September 1903, Page 2

DISCOVERY RELIEF EXPEDITION.

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. It has been finally decided that Hobart sliall be the final port of departure of the Discovery relief expedition, the Premier last week communicated with the Imperial Government stating that tin; change m the port of departure lias created great surprise m New Zealand, and pointing out . that Hobart is 500 miles further from the destination of the ships than Lyttelton, and is at present an infected port. under quarantine. Lyttelton had given every port facility, including docking free of charge to the ships. The Government of New Zealand besides a grant of £1000 had erected a fully equipped magnetic station at Christcbnrch, where observations had been kept up day ami night by arrangement with the Discovery. The Agent-General m a cablegram to the Premier says' the Admiralty states the reasons necessitating why the expedition is starting from Hobart are as follows : Firstly Hobart is 1200 miles nearer than Lyttelton to England, secondly tltf distance from Hobart to the Discovery is 2200 miles, and from Lyttelton 2050; thirdly there is the utmost importance m the expedition starting from its port of departure at the earliest possible date ; fourthly it is evident that by adopting' Hobart more than a thousand miles are gained, or one week as regards time. Under the circumstances the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty regret that they are unable to alter the decision arrived at.