ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14074, 18 August 1916, Page 3

ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

THE STKFANNsJON KXPEDITION

LtlfC. Tel. Copyright — United Press A^oD.) (Received August 18, 8.65 a.m.) NEW YORlv, August 17. Part of the StefAJtnson expedition hivs j rotamed to Nome, Alaska, including I Mr Jehness, -a New Zealander. , ■A- -The schooner Alaska left Bernard Harbor on July 13 and reached 'Hearschel Island on July 38. / During 1915 a detailed survey of the coast .line was completed, a river explored for 75 miles, and the geology cxi. ami ned. Surveys were made east from Cape Barrow, around More Bay and Arctic Sound by .'launch and canoe, returning by sledge. As the result Bathurst Island charts were rectified. Over 150 islands wore charted. The geological results are encouraging. A great copper field has been mapped out. Mr Jenness spent from April to November, 1915, sledging and packing with primitive. Eskimos m the interior of Victoria Island. He made extensive ethnological and archaeological researches and secui'T | ed a collection of phonograph records of folklore. (Received August 18, 11.50 a.in.j . There is no official news of the north.-, j oin section of the expedition, but VVilkin.s has reported that the schooner was 'bandied, at Cape K«llett. schr .oner was got but was unable to proceed further north than the unnamed ■ island or West Banks Island. The ship Polar Bear, under Stefansson, unsuccessfully attempted a voyage to West Banks Island m 1915, and was forced to retmn, wintering between! Banks Island .and Victoria Island. Plans' were nuideto spend 1916 m ob.taining more , information. Land was discovered by Stefansson m 1915. Stefansson' and party started exploration m May and intend to remain as lotig as possible, spending the summer m the northern islands and rejoining the Polar Bear at Melville Island m the fall. It is expected the Polar Bear will spend the winter of 1916-17 at Melville Island. The northern party intended to return m 1916, but it is hardly anticipated that will be possible owing to the scattering of the parties. The explorers are well supplied for tnvo years. The scientists of the southern party brought many tons of specimens. Tho re-mapping of Bathurst Island region corrects the error m ISir John Franklin and; Dr. Anderson's reports. Stefa-nssori may .not j return imtil-1918. After remaining -\rith the ißtefanason party, Wilkins made a trip over the ice and joined the' southerners. Stefnnsson told 'Mm: that now land had been discovered which might be desci'ibed as another Gi-eenland.