A CITIZENS BANQUET.

Star (Christchurch), 20 December 1907, Page 4

A CITIZENS BANQUET.

OFFICERS AND SCIENTISTS ENTERTAINED. Lieutenant Shackleton -and the officers and scientists of the Nimrod expedition were entertained at a banquet by Christchurch citizens in Freeman's roams last evening. The Hon C. 0 Bowen presided, and had Lieutenant Shackleton on his right, and Captain England on his left, and there was an attendance of between seventy and eighty gentlemen. After the usual loyal toast, the Hon C. C. Bowen read apologies for absence from Sir Joseph Ward, Bishop Grimes, Sir George Clifford, the Hon R. M'Nab, the Hon H. F. Wigrain, Mr Justice Chapman and others. The chairman proposed the healths of Lieutenant Shackleton and Captain England. He said^ that Christchurch had known the leading members of the expedition before, and it wished them every success in the great work they had undertaken. Lieutenant Shackleton had set out to provide the people who. stayed at home with some information regarding the Antarctic, and all would appreciate the courage and determination that actuated the exploreis. Very few people cared to face the dangers and hardships of the least attractive parts of the world, and New Zealand would wish the expedition every possible success. No man had ever got to either of the Poles, Ithougb many had tried, but every attempt made had been most valuable in furthering the knowledge of mankind in general. Lieutenant Shackleton and his men were taking their lives in their hands on a venture that was of particular importance to New Zealand, and he had very great pleasure in proposing the toast and in presenting the Lieutenant with a copper plate made from copper taken from Nelson's Victory, modelled on one presented to Captain Scott at Cowes. The toast was honoured with enthusiasm. Lieutenant Shackleton, in reply, sa ; d that the expedition was a small one, b'lt it had a very great object in front of it, and the kindness received from the dominion had been appreciated. He had expected sympathy from Australia and New Zealand, but he had not expected that the financial assistance given would be of such a generous character. There were to be about fifteen men in the shore party and twenty-two on the ship. Second in command of the expedition and in command of the ship was Captain England, who had been down south before as chief officer of th c Morning, and in him he had found a man who would do all that it was possible to do to ensure the success of the' work that had to be faced. The scientific staff was composed of young men, the average age being something like twentyfour, but its work would be to collect facts in order that the experts at Home might be able to sit in their armchairs and decide / regarding the collections that had been made. A fact of which he was proud was that every man in the expedition was a Britisher. " I know that each man is actuated by a determination to do his best for the expedition," said Lieutenant Shackleton. '* Each man will do his utmost in the particular department to which he has been assigned. I feel sure that there will be no sort of bickering or dissension. The most suitable men will be selected 'for each piece of work that ..as to be undertaken. No one num. can carry through this work. We must have loyal service from every man, and 1 beli&ve that the men associated with me recognise that fact. We may wt achieve our hearts' desire, which is the South Pole, but our work can hardly ' fail to be of very great value to our country and to the world at large. Knowledge has to be acquired slowly, and if our efforts in the inhospitable wastes of ice and snow do not offer immediate promise of economic value, then, at least in years to come people will b 6 able to look back and say, 'Those men made the start.' We appreciate the kindness we have received in the dominion more than I can tell. I can only hope that the assistance ro'J have- given us and the sympathy yon have displayed will be- repaid by *-he vigour and determination with which the expedition will endeavour to secure honour for the British race." Captain England also replied briefly. He said/ that to come to New Zealand had been like coming home, and h e . appreciated very, deeply indeed the cor- ) dialifcy of the welcome that had been xtended to him and to the other members of the expedition. Bishop Julius proposed the health of ' th c scientists of the expedition. He said that tho members of the expedition were entitled to the more honour from the fact that the Antarctic had not the glamour that had come to the Arctic from years of endeavour. The expedition was teaching a leisson of downright * honest work, and in that was preaching ' a sermon to the world. The explorers ; were going to an unknown land to meet unknown fortunes, and Now Zealand wished them Godspeed in their high and ! noMe work. Mr R. E. Priestly. c-n e of the geolo»i<s.ts o\ the expedition, replied. He s:-id tls-it the results expected to be achieved by the expedition would be '*i particular importance to New Zealand. Thai pood work could be don© under most adverse climatic conditions had h;:on proved by the Discovery expedition, and, aided by tho experience that had been gathered, the Nimrod might hope to do even better. Of the surveying, magnetic and meteorological work 1 he was not qualified to speak. Geology was the science with which ho was more particularly connected, and it was impossible to prophesy regarding the results that would bo achieved in -that branch of science. The land to which the Nimrod was going had been eeeu ■ only from a distance, and man did r.ot know what lay beyond the veil. The geological work would bo divided into two parts, the study of tho ice and the examination of the rocks. Only two or three exposed rocks had been observed, and it was quite possible that these would be found to be volcanic rocks. His great hope was that he n—^d bo able to reach sedimentary rocks containing fossils, as then the information gathered would be very valuable indeed. In conclusion, Mr Priestly "said that the members of the expedition had been > ceived in New Zealand more as if they were coming homo than if they were pausing on a lon .a journey. # Dr Marshall also replied briefly. Mr G. P. Williams proposed tho health of Mr Dunlop. engineer of he Nimrod, and Mr Dunlop replied briefly. The health of the chairman was also honoured, and the gathering closed wita " Auld Lang Syne/ CHRISTMAS CHEER. A SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION TO THE NIMROD. Lieutenant. Shackleton complied with an invitation to visit the Technical College yesterday, and was treated m an unconventional and pleasant manner during his short visit. All the pupils then in the school, who were numerous enoueh to make an excellent showing in the big science room, were gathered together and stood as he entered. On a, bench there lay a collection of foods, redolent of Christmas, and on the far side of it the visitor took his seat. Mr J. H. Howell, direcUor of the College, formally welcomed

Lieutenant Shackleton as a distinguished visitor, whom all were delighted to see. All connected with the College, he said, had looked with the- greatest interest on what had taken place in connection with the expedition from its inception, and all regarded their guest as an embodiment of the pluck, endurance and perseverance that the British nation was famous for producing. A fortnight ago the pupils of the day school had been shown over the Niinrod at Lyttelton by Captain England, and all were greatly . interested by what they had seen, and thankful for the privilege. As a slight return they had prepared a sme^l Christinas hamper for the petty officers and men, and he asked Lieutenant Shackleton to accept it on their behalf. Lieutenant Shackleton appeared delighted with the nature of the gift, and when he could make himself heard above tne applause expressed hearty thanks for his welcome and the present, ixe had been much impressed, he said, by the way in which" the people in the colonies had supported the expedition, showing a much appreciated, tangible help. The gift of CLristmas fare was very welcome, and would make a toothsome addition to the ship's pantry. They were, of course, all interested in the adventure, the difficulties, and the danger attaching to the expedition, but he reminded i them that it was: not alone the object of . such an organisation to set up records. They were going down to try and collect information, to; contribute a little to the world's information, to add a brick to the wall of knowledge. It had needed the inquiring enterprise of Columbus, Cook and Tastnan before the new countries could become what they were. Knowledge never came fully fledged; there had to be a beginning, and the knowledge of the Antarctic was at its very beginning. They must not mind if the expedition did* not reach the South Pole. The true object of it was to add to the world's knowledge. As a man who had an interest in young people, and knew what was good for them, he UTged them to work harder than they played. Mr E. K. jMulgan, as a representative of the Education Board, expressed regret that more members could not be present, and emphasised the importance of the privilege that had been given to those present in meeting Lieutenant Shackleton.' He said that when the expedition had been terminated, and the record of its achievements was known, those who had met its leader face to face would be glad to remember that they had done so. A hearty vote of thanks for Lieutenant Shackleton 's attendance was accorded by all present, and the > boys of the school joined in giving him three very hearty cheers before the gathering oroKt i ' .