THE ALERT EXPEDITION.

Southland Times, Issue 3296, 13 January 1879, Page 2

THE ALERT EXPEDITION.

The Alert, screw sloop, which left Portsmouth on Tuesday morning, Sept. 24, is bound upon an expedition of considerable geographical and commercial importance. Sir George Nares goes out in his old ship, upon which ' something like £20,000 has been expended in repairs and refitting since her return from her last famous voyage. This large expenditure was rendered necessary by reason of the .inadaptability of her late arrangements for the present purpose. Before starting on the polar expedition' considerable alteration had to be made to render the interior of the ship proof, as far as possible, against the cold. The consequence was that much of the room which would otherwise have been berth accommodation had to be utilised for storing rooms, &c. While 60 hands all told -formed her last complement, 12 officers and 112 men are now on board. The Alert forms the fourth ship now engaged upon this class of work. Commander Felham is in Japanese waters with the Sylvia ; on the coast of China is the Nassau, under the command of Oapt. R. H. Napier, assisted by Lieut. Pirfe ; while the Fawn, Commander Wharton, is at present un the east coast of Africa. On the 20th of last month, Sir George Nares recommissioned the Alert at Sheerness, and has now proceeded on exploring and sui-veying work in Magellan Strait and the South Pacific. The duration of the present voyage has been fixed "at two years ; but when the-nature of the work is taken into • account, -it is not at all .-probable (says a Portsmouth correspondent) that the tight little -craft will reach 'home .at the end of double that period. Due precautions have been taken with' regard to barometrical influences, but the samQ

description of extra -clothing and muffler - biding, as was used by the Arctic expedition will not now be rendered necessary, for although the Alert will have to pass a "reat deal of time in boisterous regions, awl at other times will be employed on the borders of the tropics, yet no. such weather as was experienced on her Arctic commission will be possible. Her - instructions from the Hydrographical and Medical Departments have been most complete. Great care has been excercisdd in the selection of , officers who have accompanied Sir George, all of them being not only skilled and experienced in their * profession,- but taking a personal' interest in the work' on which they are to be en- • gaged. Only four of his old hands will - accompany Captain Nares, amongst them being George Winstone, who was in the Challenger , ond was conspicuous for his great pluck in many hazardous adventures. ** The Alert will call first at Madeira, and then proceed direct tc Montevideo, where her work will commence. Additional stores will be forwarded to her at Cape Horn in the spring of next year. From Montevideo she will proceed to the Strait of Magellan, where from 12 to 18 months', probably two years', work is before her. These Straits have nover yet been - fully surveyed, Capt. Mayne, who commenced atCa'pc Virginson, on the Atlantic side, going no farther than to about Port Famine, or touching at a few points here and there to the westward towards tlie Pacific side. Before quitting those waters wiil re- , quire to be executed the triangulatiou from ' Cape Forward, the most southern portion of the American mainland, to Cape Pillar, on -the east coast of Van Diemen's Land and a survey of the channel to the north. Avery ' important branch of the' work will be the survey of the numerous islands on the - - Pacific side of the Strait, as there exists a dangerous spot in Smyth's channel, called the English Narrows. " It is between WeUington Island and the mainland, and in consequence of the exact nature of the danger being either not sufficiently understood or not clearly "marked, steamers which used to enter the inner chaunel from the Gulf of Penos, now enter from the Gulf, "of Trinidad, two and a-half degrees to' the southward. These channels and islands will be all explored and surveyed, and, with some outlying islands, will have their positions pro- ' ' perly charted. The Straits of Magellan and the coasts of Patagonia' having been thoroughly sounded, surveyed and explored, Sir George Nares' work will begin in the South Pacific, and the rough, boisterous climate of the Magellan Straits will be changed for one suited to British-blood-. His energies will be employed for the most part on several isolated islands which : never had their topography fixed, and with which the low Pacific Archipelago is generally credited with being studded. In fact, this archipelago is said to comprise an immense - number of- coral reefs and islets situated to the eastward of the Society Islands, and sketching from 135 to 149. Surveying will commence at Minerva Reef in 136.30, and' -will go on until the whole neighborhood is. surveyed. The changes in the depth of the sea, caused' by volcanic agency, towards the ? Fijis, . will also ' require exploring ■; ■ and the hard work of the; expedition will come to a practical, termination there. The Alert -.-will ; : thea_ go on to Sydney tb refit, and ; should everything proceed "prosperously she cannot arrive there in less than two years. . Afrer refitting she will proceed ■through Torres Straits to the West Coast 6f Australia, ...and soundings will have to be obtained in Geography Bay, which can scarcely be concluded in less than three years from the present time even should there be no delays of any kind, seeing that the survey will extend as far- south as King George's Sound, which is one of the principal settlements in Western Australia: —-Sydney Morning Herald..