SCOTT'S EXPEDITION.

Southland Times, Issue 14577, 18 November 1910, Page 6

SCOTT'S EXPEDITION.

BTJSI3VZ PBEPAKIHG,

(Special To The Times.)

CHKfSTCHURCH, Xov. 17

It is only occasionally that one can .atch sight of Captain Scott at , the offices of the Antarctic expedition in Christchureh, and he is then so busy that one can get nothing; more than a few hurried words from him. His New Zealand agent (Mr J. J. Kinsey) is also one of the hardest worked men in New Zealand at present. Every night Captain Scott and Mr Kinsey are together until a late hour going into details, wading through documents, masses of figures, and discussing fresh points which arise every day and which demand that they must be dealt with. All this activity is in view of the departure on November 26, which date Captain Scott has definitely fixed. He lias so much to do that he has been compelled absolutely to decline scores of Offers from public bodies and private persons to entertain him and members of his expedition before they leave X.yttelton. He has declined alt functions and entertainments, and at last lias somewhat plaintively asked that, although lie highly appreciates the thousand kindnesses shown, he cannot allow himself to be the subject of anymore hospitality until he returns from the Antarctic. In the meantime ihe Navy League will entertain members of the ship's company to-morrow evening, but that entertainment is of a character which will not interfere with the work of the officers and the scientific staff.

The principal efforts of the expedition are now directed towards loading the Terra Nova with stores and appliances, and storing them away in the hold. "Carpenters are fitting up stalls on deck for the Siberian ponies, and special accommodation is being provided for the .dogs which, of course, are valuable members of the expedition. There will be eight stalls on the port side and seven on the starboard side, witli a narTow allay-way between to allow attendants to "get at their charges. The two rows of ponies will stand facing one mother. The stalls will be finished tomorrow, but the ponies will not be taken aboard until just before sailing time. Four extra able seamen and two stokers are being engaged at Lyttelton •to fill the places of men who will remain with the shore parties. Those "who have already been signed on are, Charles Williams, William Knowles. and Copp (able seamen), and Angus McDonald and Thomas MeGillon (stokers). Willams is a native of T.,yt'telton, and is a time-expired navy man. Knowles is a naval reservist, and was a member of the crew of the Morning which went to the relief of the Discovery when she was in the Antarctic some eight years ago. MeGillon went dov/il to the Antarctic in the Nimrod with Shacklcton's expedition. Cop]) has also seen service in the navy on the Australasian station, and McDonald lias served in several of the Pnion Company's steamers. All those on board are very fond of the ship's pets. They have a remarkably intelligent black cat, which has teen brought out from England, and a squirrel which came from Cecil Rhodes estate in South Africa. Two more pets have made their appearance on board, "the latest is a blue kitten which came through the post from a friend in Akaroa by this morning's mail. Yesterday the ship was presented with a guinea pig, and to-day their donor sent its house through the post. Preparations aro in hand to . make these interesting members of the expedition as jomfortable as possible in the rigorous jlimate of Southern latitudes. All »ands regard, them with so much affection that there is no chance of their iuffering from want of attention.