LECTURE BY DR. BELL.

Colonist, Volume XLVII, Issue 11486, 13 November 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

LECTURE BY DR. BELL.

There was a large attendance at the Provincial Hall on Nov. 7ih, when Dr. Bell, Director of the New Zealand Geological Survey, lectured on behalf of the funds of the Nelson Institute on his experiences in northern Canada, more especially dealing with an expedition into the Arctic region north of Great Slave Lake. Starting from Great Slave Lake, Dr. Bell—who was in charge of a small expedition— descended the Great Mackenzie River— which flows north— to the .junction with the Great Bear River. The latter river was then ascended till Great Bear Lake was reached. As evidence of the remoteness of the region here entered it may be mentioned that Dr. Bell here encountered Indians who had never before seen white people, though they had heard of them. After some time spent coasting the northern shores of Great Bear Lake, a portion of the expedition, with. Dr. Bell, made ; a dash for the Coppermine River, which enters Coronation Gulf, and Dr. Bell and another actually reached this river. Incidentally it may be mentioned that one of the five who composed this party was lost to the others, and "it was only after Dr. Bell's return to England that he learned that some Indians had befriended the man, and later returned J him safely to civilisation. By the time Great Bear Lake was regained the summer was coming to a close, and the expedition made direct from the southern shores for Great Slave Lake by the most direct route, passing ;< through country quite new to the 'white man. Throughout the expedition Dr. Bell was taking astronomical and geological observations, and he also secured a large number of photographic views, which by means of limelight were shown the audience last evening, greatly enhancing the interest of Dr. Bell's recital of his experiences. The lecture was exceedingly interesting throughout, and Dr. Bell succeeded in conveying a sense of the ■ magnitude of the great Dominion, I as he showed the vastness oE a territory practically untouched as yet, despite the explorations and intrepidity of the offioers.'and servants of the great Hudson' Bay Company. The information and pictures of the Indians, too. were most interesting, and it may be stnted'that Dr. Bell has a good word to say for the Canadian Indians, while those Indians met with who had been absolutely nntouched by civilisation were shown to he a very fine lot of people. Altogether tbe lecture was a charming narration of unique experiences in the Great North land. On the motion of Judge Eyre Kennv a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer, tbe Mayor (Mr H. BaigenV), who presided, endorsing Judge Kennv's remarks as to the interesting nature of Dr. Bell's narrative.