THE TERRA NOVA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14337, 1 November 1910, Page 5

THE TERRA NOVA.

SCIENTISTS GETTING READY. THE AURORA'S MYSTERY. (By Telegraph—Special to t>ho "Herald.") • CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 31. i Some of the scientists belonging ta Captain Scott's expedition have been busy to-day at the Magnetic tory, in the public; gardens. This institution has been established about ten years, and has been found very valuable in connection with all the Antarctic expeditions that have had their principal babe in this Dominion. The branch of science study it represents is a somewhat abstruse one, and it does not come much under the public eye. At liie same time a great deal of attention is now being directed to terrestrial magnetism and polar meteorology, and nature's secrets in this direction are gradually being laid bare. Dr. G. S. Simpson, who will attend to most of this work in the Antarctic told me yesterday that he had spent some time «n a similar n.iiest in_ Lapland, where he investigated the Northern Lights. He is fascinated by the mystery and beauty of the aurora, into which lie will make special inquiry. He said dint very little "was known about it, and that "nearly all knou ledge in that resnect had vet to lie gained. The aurora, he added, was an electrical phenomenon of some kind, but nobody could say ivhat caused, these electrical displays, or whether the cicatrical on-, orgy caini 1 from the i ar:h, the sun, or "from the stellar spaces. (In some occasions tile aie'cra !:;'.d lie: u a linn- - dred or two humin u :••'■':• s high, and some investigators believed it also came to earth. Dr. Wilson, head of tie- scientific trail", ha-- i:l<.i got to work here right; away, and io-day has been bu-y in the | Canterbury Mireum with coat off, and : signs that be has a lot of things to ' attend in. Li. is expected that 'be Terra Nova j will leave ahum the cod of November, ! but no date for he. 1 departure is rixed i yet. : Per Press Association. i CHRISTCIirCCH. Oct. 31. I Captain R. F. Scott went down to Lyttelton this morning, and accompanied by LVeut. Evans went over to j Quail Island for the purpose of inspecti ing the ponies and dogs, j Tli. crew of the Terra N-va linvo j commenced the operation of disclinrg- \ ing the timber wb oh is in be used in ! the erection of huts. It is proposed . ' to erect skeleton Imt= temporarily in I the recrce.t'nn ground, and the ship's carpenter expects to commence work AN EXPLANATION. " EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS." TNYERCARGILL, Oct. 31. In reference to a telegram from Cliristelimcli published tin's morning, stating that surprise had been expressed that no report of the Terra Nova passing the signal station al Bluif was sent, the secretarv of toe Bluff Harbour Board writes to the. "Southland Times" stating tl at tut Terra Nova passed through the St.nt . about noon on Tuesday. She uo:£ttd signal letters only giving ior name. She made no further signals, :~'d old - not ask to be reported all w-dl. l.'ooming the matter of public interest, the secretary telephoned the fa„t of her passing to the " Southland News," , and Lloyd's agent at Invercargill, and later to the " Southland Times." It is interesting to note that at 2 p.m. on the 25th October, the s.s. Kotare' passed the Terra Nova just off the Bluff Hill. The vessels saluted one another, and on arrival here Captain Trenni reported the matter to Dalgety and Co., the local agents, and suggested telegraphing north, and the firm rang up the telegraph ol'lice suggesting that if no report had already been sent, a wire should be sent to Christohiirch. As far as tho Press Association is concerned, there is an agent at the Bluff who looks after all shipping movement::, eonsocnientlv tho Invercargi!! agents did not consider it their duty to report tile passing of the Terra Nova, to-morrow morning.