THE SWEDISH ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1338, 3 January 1879, Page 2

THE SWEDISH ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

(British Mail) It would seem that the problem which has been the object of the ambition of all Arctic explorers has at last been solved, for on the 16th of October, Mr Oscar Dickson, of Gothenburg, received the following telegram from Professor Nordenskiold : — " Having safely arrived at the mouth of the Lena on the 27th August, after passing Cape TscheljusMn on the 19th August, and finding the sea nearly free from ice, I continue the journey to Behring Straits and Japan without delay. We will be able to get letters if addressed immediately to Yokohama." The north-east passage along tho north-east coast of Norway, the north coasts of Western and Eastern Siberia, and down to the Pncific Ocean to the Strait of Behring, seems to be an actual possibility ; whether a useful one is to be considered. 'It would seem, from the news which has reached us from time to time, that Professor Nordenskiold's route has been between the Spitsbergen and Lapland to North-east Cape orSievero Vostothiltii Nos, thence S.S.W to the Lena River, of which the lighthouse stands about 127deg. 30min.N., passing between theltland Liaghoff and Cape Sviatoy on the mainland, and straight to the Behring Pass. He has, therefore, not been much more north than the 78deg. 30min. parallel. This is, no doubt, a great feat, and Professor Nordenskiold's fame shall endure m geographical annals ; but whether his, we would hardly say discovery, shall prove of any use to the world, commercially, is very doubtful. Ten months m the year the passage thus made use of for the first time is entirely blocked by ice banks, and the weather during the remaining two months is by no means reliable. No merchant vessel would, therefore, find any gain m time by following this perilous route to the Pacific Ocean, nor would any shipowne* risk his property on that cold track. We do not mean, however, to disparage the importance, from a geographical point of view, of Professor Nordenskiold's performance, which will, no doubt, be highly appreciated m the proper place.

[Bt Telegbaph.]