Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, MAR. 17, 1910. SOUTH POLE RACE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12099, 17 March 1910, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, MAR. 17, 1910. SOUTH POLE RACE.

The conquest. of the North Pole by the American explorer Peary has haturaily led to a good deal of emulation as to which nationality shall have the honor of ■caching the earth's southern axis first, uid. the present year will see three expeditions under British, American and German. Hags respectively set out to Jrave the regions of the. Antarctic and Lo win the distinction of bringing within Um> range of human: knowledge- this lust section - of ' the earth's surface, that hay 'iiLherl/O defied attempts to unravel its Tiyaterios. Many assaults have been mad© upon its icy fastnesses., arid by representatives of most of the European' (Mtions. Before Sir James Itoss Avon renown by .his famous voyage m the Erebus and Terror m 1841, the Russians and the English had made ineffectual attempts to reach the Far South, 'said Captain. Dumont d'Urville, of the French Navy, with, the Astrolabe and ZeJee, tnd Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, of the United States Navy, with a couple, of doaps of war and a small attendant convoy had succeeded m penetrating ivitliin the Antarctic Circle. Koss spent three summers m, the Antarctic, and achieved Jbiiillionti results. Thirty years j later Captain, Nares, of the Challengeri tfcje"fact*%ha't the land; within I ';he ice suiTouridiiig- the Antarctic Circle vas not insular, but ti continent. After 'iim the • (.lermaus; ' the Norwegians, and the Belgians, sought without' success to •)lace their respective flags bii Ilia South Polo, and.Dr W. •&. Bruce, ill ths Scotia, (ierldcho m the Belgica, Charcot m the Fnincais, Bbrchgrevinck m the Southern Cross, and the Gerft.au expedition m the (xauss, all achieved notable resultß. Then came Captain Scott's great voyage m the Discovery, and later Shaekletoh's \n the Niriiffrd. Now that Captain Scott, n behalf of Great Britain, Captain Bartlett, who will lead the United States expedition, and Lieutenant Filchner, of the ■ German General Staff, are oreparing . for' their. 1 respective efforts, the world' is likely to see a. wonderful"! race to the untrodden- snows of the Pole. Honors at present rest vith the British, Sir Elrriest Shackleton having reached to 1 a point within 97 Titles of the Pole on his recent expedition, the total distance marched from' his base being "1725 miles,- including relay ■york and back "marches. Assuming that Captain Scott, goes over the same ground 'ie will have to cover 1919 miles. When S'hackleton reached his limit he found himself on a plateau at an altitude of. 11,600 ft above sea level, and on that plateau, which still had an upward trend, he was confident the South Pole would be found. The showy wastes were swept by bitter blizzai-ds, ■ reaching a velocity of 'Bo miles an hour, and the last; day of the outward march Uie expedition, experiened 70 degrees of frost. Plans of Peary's project came to hand by . this week's English mail. Mr Peary suggests that the American expedition should make its base opposite ■he British base, so that the two camps would be about 2000 miles apart. Capt. Scott" is of opinion that the American "oute will be longer 1 though possibly easier than his own. Apparently the 'Uerman route will also be longer. In view of the splendid resultg achieved by German aeronautical science, it is hardly likely that Lieutenant Filchner will.be unprovided with one or more diiigible balloons and possibly aeroplanes as tyell, m suite of the dangers connoted by the ' high altitudes and 1 the fierce . Avindf and bitter cold cxiperienced by previous expeditions. Possibly the British and American parties will also be equipped with facilities for reaching the Polo by aerial transport as a. last resort, for m a matter where the nations ire .so keetfly m cchi.teftt eveiything tliat scilence .can sugegst will be provided [to win success. Sir Ernest Shackleton's v,ieAvs Avail- naturally c<in-y Aveight. "1 bdieve," he said, "Captain Scott has' a splendid chance. His plans are sound 'md appiwed by geographical auithorilies and explorers. Tlie base he has. chosen ,is safe .and Avell known.-. •' He knows the land for . a good distance sputhwardis. He must now be allowed plenty of' time for organisation, -uhl]a.mpered' b^ r tliie need for funds, and al^ will b« well. > If tho'PGnvy cx\ieditiou is to cluio,sc the W'cddel Sea .as the point of diep«u*turo they are hampei'ed 'fi-onn the start 'by the necessity of making their base, On an Auiknown . pqilion of, the Antarctic continent, where, as far as^ wo know-, tltekv is no safe, landing place. They will bo -confronted by a great barrier of ioo, and wijl be 200 miles or so; further .north than Captain Scott.,, I doubt if tjiey cfin do anything in 'one neason from such it, point. Cap : tain iScotlt's attitude towards Coanmander Peary 'may bo simmnedt up m the old nlu-a'ao. "May . tl]o best man win." He avcl comes scientific co-opera-tion, m tho task of exploring tho Antaactic, aiid realises that every expedition adds to U 1,5 sum of general krio.fr - Ledge; and thcreforo helps those Avho fplJow. Oaptaih Scott, hus ' been ,jn j:oiiwnu nication Avit Ji Com mamiei*' Peary., for whom lie has a great regard. • The i Bribish leader is a good sportsman, ans Will enjoy the prospect of a race to the Pole. The British expedition i.will leave Eugliuul m .-July andl New Zealand i\\\ December 1910. -By tlie end of Februa^ 1911 it should be stile m Avinter quavtei's at' 'the Disco;V.ei?v'B old bagp. TJio st;ii;t for tlie Pole Will be, mad, o at. the end oi October »1911 i iAccording to the. scheme suggested' by Pearyr the American exped'itio^ pjipuld roach the opast land of the ' Antarctic continent ■ m Mar^li 1911, He estimated that the explorers Avould. if Buccesfuij. reach- t|io South Pole about ithe end of Deceniber 1911. It Avill be a fairly close contest. #

Mr dcLiiutoui 1 has been appointed by i tlio Government to a- vacancy on the Gisbomo High School Board. I Jurors summoned to appear at the ' .Supremo Court on Monday are noti'icd that their attendance will not be required. The Gisborno Harbor Board's hew dredge Maui lefl Brisbane yesterday for New Zealand, the vessel having apparently como round by tho north of Australia. A special foalau'o of 10-liight'H performance' of Pathe Pictures will be the exhibition of Irish pictures; also, "Gonsuil, the Great," will be kliowti for the la-sfc lime. Tliere wiJl be lu> pictures shown to-morrow night. The s.s. Victoria, will pass through Ciisborno from -Auckland «. day early next week, leaving here for South on Tuesday night, instead of Wednesday. Tho s.s. Monowui, from South, will also be early, working through Gisborne on ■Uood Friday night. St.. Patrick's' Social at Uie Garrison Hall this evening, forming a fitting conclusion to the afternoon's sports gathering, promises to be as successful a function as m former years. Th© music will b© provided by Messrs Vita Bros' orchestra. , The art union will also be drawn during the evening. Mr W. D. S. Mac Donald, M.P. for Bay of Plenty, who has been on a visit to Rotorua, and was to liavo returned to Gisborne yesterday, via Napier, was detained at the latter place on account of illness. He consequently will* not be able to attend the meeting of the Waikoliu .Oounty Oouricil to-morrow. Among the witnesses m a Supi-eme Court case m New Plymouth, m which, among other matters, an old cottage was concerned, with the father of seventeen children. Witness explained that three of his children slept m the cottage, "because they overflowed, and he had to put them somewhere." ...:.. In consequence of. the advance m the price of New Zealand butter m London, where it. is now quoted at from 120s to 1225, the' wholesale selling price m Wellington Jias'.gone up one penny per lb, being now Is o£d wholesale and Is 2d retail. A somewhat similar advance occurred m Auckland some two or three weeks sinee 1 . At a sitting of the Police Court this morning, before Mr W. A. Barton, •S.M"., a man named John Hunter was charged with drunkenness, having been once previously convicted within the last six months for the same offence. He did riot appear, and was ordered to forfeit his bail, £1. ' A first offender, for drunkenness, was dealt with m the usual way. • • Mr Andrew Black, before leaving Gisborne yesterday, sent ' the following letter to Messrs Chrisp and . Son : — "Thank you very much for the magnificent piano you sent me to His, Majesty's Theatre. I really think the Schiedmeyer is splendid ,- both for the solos and . accompaniments ; m fact, it is the best instrument we have had on our tour." . The first parade of the Gisborne Rifles under the new Defence Act will be held on Ist April next, and the N.C.O.'s parade to-morrow evening for instruction m. tho new drill. Young men bei'twebn the ages of 19 and 21 who. are liable to serve under the compulsory se'cV' tion of the Defence Act 'will have -an.' opportunity of avoiding the compulsory clause by enrolling m the local corps, provided they .make early application. All arrangements have now been co>nipleted for the staging of the Kaiti Scliiooi operetta, at Hia Majesty's Theatre tomorrow evening by the pupils of the school. Introducing 1 as it does familiar characters of fairy lore, besides numerous pretty dances and marches, tuneful arid happy songs arid choruses, the performance should undoubtedly be a great success. Seats may bo booked at Miller's.' The Rev. F.. Rule rather astonished bis hearers at the annual meeting of the Presbyterian Social Service Association, m Cla > istchurchyv«i'.hea; he related some of his experiences. Ho said that in'' one homo lie had entered the children were m an indescribable state, one little girl having been put to bed m tho same condition as she was m when she was playing m the gutter curlier m the day. Some children never got a. change of garments. He prayed God to hasten the day when children could no longer be done to death m that way.

f "It is like a regular spoiled child, that is what I call .Mack," declared a feminine witness at the Supreme Court yesterday, describing the, canine pet of a . well-known local practitioner amidst some amusement. Explaining at a later | stage the attachment "Mick" formed to-' wards children the witness iuinpimced that the animal "sang" to them ; m fact she regretted "Mtak/' was' jiofc' present m Court that ho might amuse the audience witli his ability .m th-ja direction. "Sings?" remarked ' his Honor, displaying much surprise. 'iGrowls, I should think." , •■. \ ' Hydrophobia formed the subject of reference at the 'Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, during- the hearing- of an action for damages m respect of injuries sustained- by a dhild by the bite .of' a dog. In the course of his evidenos, Dr Collins said people m New, Zealand bitten b.y a dog almost always had a great lea? -of blood-poisoning^ more so. than any fear of hjydro.phobia, 3 as was" the case at - Home. 'Mr Justice Cooper added that as far as he knew there had not been an authenticated case of hydrophobia recorded m the' Dominion. * A pleasant function took, place last evening m the Masonic Hotel when a number of friends of Mr S. Dyer (commercial traveller for Messrs J. Chambers and Coy.) met to wish him success and happiness on the eve of his marriage. My, G. X, I'osley, Mho was voted to the chahy said' it gay« him great pleasure to preside, for they all knew Mr ' Dyer was a good fellow ; they ap^recdated his- sterling qualities, Avhich had made him such a. liiogt of friends m Gisborne, and all wished- him every happiness. Mr JJ Allen also spoke appreciatively. Mr E. Hall, 'm - expressing •' his appreciation, said that he had always found their ginest a fine, straightforward fellow, who k-ied to do his' best for Ms firm, and he wished him a happy life. Mr W. Pettie added his tribute 'to the ijoodi wishes expressed, and Messrs V S. Burton, H.'DeCosta, W. Miller, AY Mtirray, H. Puflett, and R. W. Kyime also wished Mr Dyer and the '''- criming Mrs Dyer all hapx>iness. Tliii clmivrttan theji presented Mr Dyer, on bebalf o* the local firms and many other,' friewds, with a case of ha*ndsome silver cutlery, and aJI responded heartily to the chuir- - man's call to toast the health of Mr Dyer and his-sfuturo wife, live recipient suitably returned th ankis. Mr Dyer is to- bo married on March 29 to Miss L. Hamilton, of Napier, daughter of Mr W. Hamilton,- of 'Conlcv Vale, N.S.W.

l J «tutahi Parouhial Church Services. — •Simduy next : Hiingpi-noa 10.30 cum.; Waerenga-o-ktui 2.30 p.i».'. To . Arai 7 p.m., Riov. A. H. Oles; PatutaM 7.30 p.m., Rev. F. W. Chattertoin.