THE TERRA NOVA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 46, 9 October 1911, Page 5

THE TERRA NOVA.

COASTAL SURVEY WORK

(Per Press Association I

Christchurch, October 8

The Terra Nova, the British Antarctic expedition ship, which has been engaged on coastal survey, arrived in Lyttelton about noon to-day. The object of the cruise, the defining of the one hundred fathom line in the vicinity of North Capo and the Three Kings, was attained, 535 absolutely fixed soundings having been taken. These have yet to be worked out, but roughly they demonstrate the fact, that tho 100 fathom lipe, instead of continuing unbroken from off the mainland round the outer North Island, is divided by a narrow deep channel between the most, southerly point of the group and tho mainland. It was also ascertained that configuration of the islands as shown on tho chart is incorrect, and the configuration and position will bo definitely fixed once tho information - collected by the ship lias been plotted. Dredging was done and a good collection of plants was obtained. On tho passage southward one or two deep sea soundings were taken. Kaikoura was reached at 3.30 a.m. on last Thursday, and the work of defining the 100 fathom lino from the point some distance south of Kaikoura where the Admiralty soundings ended was begun. Three miles south of Kaikoura a depth of 500 fathoms was recorded, and about a mile from that sounding only 50 fathoms were found. The ship’s soundings extended for thirty miles along the coast northward, 46 being taken.

The hands will be given leave on. Tuesday for a fortnight, and after that there will be refitting to be done, and stores will he shipped when they arrive from England. A lint for the Antarctic will be taken on board. The Terra Nova will leave Lyttelton for the expedition’s base at McMurdo Sound on December 15.