THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5990, 30 March 1911, Page 4

THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

WELLINGTON, March 27. The Terra Nova arrived at Pa-ter-*o«'s Inlet, Stewart Island, this •veni«g. The following is the first portion of the official reports supplied by Captain Scott : " Three days out from New .Zealand, the ship, deeply laden, encountered a heavy south-westerly gale. The Terra Nova shipped much water, part of the bulwarks were washed away, and the rolling started some deck cargo. The pumps became choked, rand water rose in the e*£<i'ne-room, and we were forced to put fires out and compelled ta bale for many hours with buckets. The position was serious, when fortunately ; the weather moderated, and the pumps were cleaned. We lost two ponies, o-n\j dog, and a small amount of deck cargo. The remaining animals suffered badly, but they have since recovered. IN THE PACK ICE. Wo proceeded south on meridian. IV'J west, and entered the pack ice on December Uth, in latitude 05. We encountered phenomenally -heiavy ice, and spent 21 days pushing through it, with great dilliculty traversing miles. This is the greatest extent of IV-iek yet recorded. We obtained interesting soundings ,und records of sea temperatures off tne edge of the continental shelf. I He entered the open water of Ross I .Sea on December 20th, and were then forced west by «, southerly gale. We sighted the Admiralty mountains of Victoria *iLand, and reached Cape doner on January 3rd. IA. heavy swell prevented landing. After forcing our way through the pack we found McMurdo Sound exceptionally open. WINTER QUARTERS. It was decided to make our winter, quarters at Cape Evans, 14 miles north of the Discovery station, and 8 miles south of Cape Royds, and we commenced landing itorea for the wes tern party over a mile and a half of sea ice. Ponies, motor sledges, dogf., and men were employed in transporting all the stores to land, and completed the work in a week. We had tho misfortune to lose one motor sledge through a 'hole in the ice. The house was built and occupied, and the station put? in order, with acconimocUit;on for fifteen ponies, thirty dogs, and] one rabbit, in a fortnight. 'I he quarters are in a comfortable situation, giving every convenience for scientific work, and we have already •stained a. rich biological collection. The weather is very changeable, strong winds causing considerable difficulty in keeping the ship anchored to the iie. Once sha was driven on a shoal, but was refloated without damage. PLANS FOR FUTURE. Tho first report concludes :—"I am .io\v departing on a depot sledge journey south, with twelve men, eight i ponies, and tw 0 dog teams, end expect being cut off from Cape Evans for two months. I hope to return over new ice early in April. The ship proceeds west, to land a geological party, and then east, in accordance with the programme. The men and animals are in excellent ucalth." WELLINGTON, March 28. Captain Scott's report goes on to state : On January 25th the ship _ proceeded east, surveying the Ice Barrier to 170 deg. west. The Barrier to this point appears to have changed little since the PJO2 expedition. A south-easterly gale forced us to head for Cape Colbeck, arriving there en Fflwitary 2nd, where the heavy pack stopped our progress east. A high ice cliff the eastern party landing at Cape Colbeck or in t-h-3 vicinity, and we re turned along the Barrier, searching for a landing. No place Wjas possible uitil the Bay of Whales, JG4 deg. vast, was reached. Balloon Bight has (broken away entirely 'and merged into the Bay of Whales. We arrived at the Bay of Whales on 'February 4tk. THE FRAM IN THE SOUTH. The Fram, commanded! by Captain 'Amundsen, was wintering h'M'e, with eight men and 116 Greenland dogs, and a full equipment for the juuimey to the Pole. A hut was erected and staros landed two miles from the ship. The reports as to health are excellent, 'i he Fram is proceeding to Buenos Ayivs, and returning the following' reason to embark Cajitain Amundsen. The Terra Nova left tor McMurdo Sound, and found a message in the Discovery hut depot that all was well, She proceeded north, and encountered a heavy southerly gale off Cape Adare. She 'was blown over a hundred miles north, and made the land east of Smith's Inlet. She followed the coast a distance of two miles to Raborison's Bay. A landing was impossifcde owing to the precipitous heavily glaciated coast. The eastern party are wintering at Cape Adare.