TERRA NOVA ARRIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9989, 28 October 1910, Page 2

TERRA NOVA ARRIVES.

It was just at five o'clock this morning when the signalman at Godley Heads sent a telephone message to port that he had sighted the Terra Nova out at s<?a. A few minutes later the syren of the tug Canterbury sounded over tho township and amongst the hills, and in about half an hour tho tug was on its way up tho harbour to meet the,exploring vessel, with Captain Thorpe on board. Outside the Heads there was a heavy fog, and thero were absolutely no signs of tho Terra Nova. The only vessel in sight was the trawler Mulloch, which was at work off the shoro opposite to New Brighton. Tho tug waited patiently for several hours, drifting about; on a perfectly calm sea, those on board endeavouring to peer through tho fog and get a glimpse of the visitor. At last, above the fog, there was seen dimly the topmasts of a vessel. The tug immediately steamed in tho direction, and as she drew nearer and tho fog lifted, tho complete outline of the Terra Nova was seen, clearly cut against tho sky. She was steaming slowly towards the port, and, as tho two vessels drew nearer, the tug hoisted tho signal " Welcome." In a short time they were side by side, and the acting-harbourmaster and several Press representatives leaped on board tho Terra Nova, which continued her way between the Heads, up the harbour! and through tho moles. At No. 5 wharf, where she was berthed, a fairly large crowd had collected, including Mr J. J. Kinsey, tho New Zealand representative of the expedition; Mr H. Wyatt, the London manager; and Messrs Meares, Ponting and Bruce, members of the expedition who arrived in Christchurch earlier in the week. There was no demonstration on the wharf, but a great deal of interest was shown in tho vessel, and, after she had been berthed, many people remained to inspect her appointments and to eco what there was to be seen. There was. not much. Outwardly she shows no signs of the work upon which she is engaged. Her decks are loaded with different kinds of cargo. Most of it is composed of cases of petrol and cases of oil for the motor sledges. There is a pile of patent fuel, composed of pitch and coal-dust, which will be used at the' winter quarters in tho Antarctic, and lashed to the deck is a Norwegian boat., with high prow. It has been found to be very useful in surf-work, especially when the vessel touched at some of the islands on her way out to New Zealand. * Inquiries mado by friends showed that all on board were well. There was hardly any necessity to make inquiries in this respect. The officers, members of the scientific staff and crew seem to be in the pink of condition. They certainly give a strong impression at once that tliey are eager for their work. This is shown in their conversation. While declining from discussing the general plans of the expedition, thev talk freely and enthusiastically of their own special branches of-the work, and all evidently are hopeful that the expedition will do important scientific work in the South. After the first greetings were over this morning, the officers explained tho delay that occurred in the Terra Nova's arrjval. They explained that they could have come into port last night. THE VOYAGE FROM MELBOURNE. HEAD WINDS AND A SLOW PASSAGE. The voyage from the Melbourne Heads to Lyttelton Harbour occupied ten days and fourteen hours, the comparatively slow passage being attributed to the hampering winds wnich were met during the greater part of tue distance, 'lue Terra iNova cieared tiie Heaus at lUelbourne at about eight o'clock on uctober 17, just as darK was falling. During tho day she had been engaged in tue import an t operation of being "swung." A good breeze, a lair wind and nne weather favoured tlie commencement of the last stage of the voyage to Now Zealand, and for three days the vessel proceeded under both sail, and steam, averaging 9-J knots per hour. At one time the wind increased to half a gale, but as everyone was in a hurry to get to Lyttelton, tho engines were kept going. Then, on October 20, the wind dropped to a light breeze, finally drawing ahead, and from that time progress was hampered almost continuously by unfavourable winds. On October 22 the vessel was west of the Bluff, and 710 miles from her destination, steaming against head winds, that continued until the following day, when a heavy swell made an additional handicap to her advance. On Monday tho weather conditions were of a similar character. Thai night, at 11.35, tho Bluff lighthouse was picked up, and communication was established by signals. Two hours later the Terra Nova was abreast of Dog Island. Tuesday brought no change in the direction' of tho wind, nnd on tho following day it increased in force, and later a squall blowup. The vessel was then making only 7-J- knots per hour. During the afternoon a breeze from tho south mado it possible to utilise the sails, but thero was again a return to the former conditions a short time later. There was no great forco in the wind, but it remained slightly ahead, and tho remainder of the distance had to bo covered with steam power only. On Thursday afternoon tlife vessel ran into log, but by eigiit o'clock she was abreast of Akarua lueads, and the was seen plainly, though no attempt was made to communicate with the Keeper. As it was then seen that Lyttelton would, not bo reached till late at night, the ship was brought along easily, and during tho early part of tno night the light at Godley" Head cam© into sight, .in truo sailor style, the comimuuter and his officers agreed that it would bo unfair to shore folk to enter the harbour at such and hour, and although all there keenly anxious to secure the mails tjiat tney knew would be awaiting them, it was decided that no attonipt should be made to make the arrival of the expedition known until daylight. The members of the ship's company were not even content to limit their consideration far their shore friends to that extent, for it was apreed that the vessel should be held off until after breakfast time. They would have bren aided in carrying out this generous little plan by tho fog which came down some time before dawn. The Government steamer Hinemoa, however, caught sight of the ship, and as she steamed up the harbour passed the word to the signal station and the Harbour Board's launch was sent hurriedly out to brills tho visitors in to the welcome that was waiting for them. Although the tug left the moles before six o'clock it was not until eight o'clock that the topmasts of the long-lookeri-for ship were seen above the fog that

Expedition in Good Heart. Plans and Prospects. Sketch of the Scientific Work.

had previously completely enveloped her. FERRY STEAMER'S WELCOME. GREETINGS FROM THE MOKOIA. Shortly after the Terra Nova entered tho Heads, accompanied by the tug Canterbury, she was overhauled by 1 tlie Mokoia, tho ferry steamer from Wellington. As the Mokoia came up slio dipped her red ensign, and a cheer came faintly across the water from, the passengers who lined the starboard rails. There wore several officers on the steamer's bridge and they waved a friendly greeting. The salutations were immediately acknowledged by Lieutenant Evans, who dipped the white ensign, which the Terra Nova is privileged to carry as a unit of tho Royal Yacht Squadron. Whitecovered hats were waved from the bridgo and decks of the ship, and the passengers on the Mokoia, who showed great interest in the first view of the Terra Nova, gave another welcoming cheer.

THE SCIENTIFIC WORK. DR WILSON'S ARRANGEMENTS. AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. Standing on the forecastle of the Terra Nova as she steamed up the harbour, Dr Wilson, head of the scientific staff, talked interestingly'of the scientific work of tho expedition. He began by saying that the different members of his staff would deal with theories and problems upon which it was likely the Antarctic Continent could throw some light. In tho first place, tho expedition had secured a first-class biologist in Mr E. W. Nelson, who would go with the eastern party and would carry on .the work which had been taken up by Mr Hodgson and Mr Murray, of tho previous expedition. Mr D. G. Lillie, another able biologist, would remain on the vessel, and do work amongst the animal life in the sea, especially on the way home, on the shelf before getting into deeper water around the Balleny Islands. The dredges and the trawls would be used for that branch of investigation. Dr Simpson and Mr Wright were the physicists. The former also dealt with meteorology. The latter M'ould study chemistry and would investigate the ice from a physical point of view. The expedition had three medical men, Dr Atkinson, Dr Rennick and the speaker, all of whom, of course, had their special branches of research. Dr Atkinson, for instance, would take bacteriology and parasitology.' Tho latter subject he had studied in other places, and he would take in hand parasites which had not been very much under the microscope. In regard to problems connected with the ice, there would be a close examination of the minute structure of ice grains. It was a subject that had been studied by Mr J. Y. Buchanan, of the Challenger expedition, which came to New waters about thirty-fivo years ago, and by Mr Deelv. There seemed, however, to be a great deal <ff work still to be done in. that direction, and it was hoped that by examining ice grains it would be possible to obtain a knowledge of the history of samples of ice. The work was very interesting, and it would be more or less new. Tho Aurora would engage the attention of Dr Simpson, who had made investigations into the northern lights when he was in Lapland. The structure of tho Great Ice Barrier was another important subject. Work would be done from both ends of the Barrier, from one end by the eastern party and from tho other end by the western party, and tho vessel would go along the whole length of the face of the Barrier. One of tho most interesting features of that work would be the noting of the changes that had taken place since Captain Scott's first expedition was there, about ton years ago. That,, however, was a subject with which Captain Scott would deal. The magnetic work would also be of a very important character, and tho expedition was very fortunate in having obtained the .services of Lieutenant Pennell, who was an exceptionally capable man, and who had taken up the study of ornithology with wonderful enthusiasm, 1 showing that he had. very deep interest in all the birds that the vessel would meet with on her voyages. The Terra Nova would touch at some of the southern islands of New Zealand, The work done by New Zealand scientists on their expedition to those islands a few years ago would be studied, and it was honed that with the assistance and advice of tho New Zealandcrs, good work would be done there also. There would be surveying to bo done and other things which it was difficult to state. Tho expedition, in fact, had a vast accumulation of work before it, and ho hoped that some excellent results would bo obtained. Dr Wilson was diffident when asked in regard to his part of the work, but a few loading questions led him to talk of some of the things- lie has in his mind. When lie was with Captain Scott in the Discovery ho gave liuch attention to the tall Emperor penguins and to tho quaint little Adelie penguins, and also to the seals, and to some extent to the whales. He said that ho wished to finish the bird business. Ho had ''some things to do" with the penguins. He was anxious to go further into tho embryology of the Emperor penguin, which "could* not be studied anywhere except in tho Antarctic regions, as it never leit that part of the world. .Ho would have to sit down there in the winter months anci get the eggs and watch tho development of the embryo. Ho was confident that it would be possible to do that. It would be a funny kind of business, perhaps, but it would havo a great interest. Ho would also try to deal with tho embryo of the Adelie penguin. Tho migrations of tho penguins would supply another wide field of investigation. There were also the migratory habits of tho ice birds. Tnt.v we're not nearly so restricted? in their habits as had been believed. The southern fuimar petrel, lor instance, was seen all tho way from Now Zealand to Cape Horn, and right up to tlu> edge of the ice. The snow petrel, on the other hand, seemed to be a strictly ieo bird; at any rate, he had not seen it anywhere except at the ice. He did not expect to iind any penguins except the Emperor and the Adolis'., the two species known to exist in the Antarctic regions. The subject of the embryology of the seals had been merely scratched at present, and there again a very wide and important field was opened up. He hoped that the expedition would obtained one or two new species of whales He knew of some Unit were unlike anything which had been described scientifically. Special attention would be given to those whales, and. with that object, the expedition had been equipped with two swivel guns, harpoons and other appliances, in order that specimens might be secured. They -mall

whales, not longer than 20 or 30 feet, as far as ho know. He also believea that at least ono new species of dot< phin had been seen. Dr Wilson added that a pood deal of work had been dono by the Terr* Nova on her voyage to New Zealand. Some of the scientists paid a very in* toresting visit to South Trinidad. Two days were spent there, and collection* were made of birds, insects, molluses, crustaceans and other animals, as well as plants. , Difficulties had to be in landing on the island and in departing from it. The surf was so heavy that the boat could not get through. Consequently all the scientists who landed had to swim, ashore, and swim back again when they had completed theif work. Apparently they had more car* for their valuable specimens than for themselves. The specimens were sent to the boat along a line, in order that they might bo damaged as little _ aa possible. Many things that the scientists had never seen before 'were discovered on the island. During th# voyage albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters and other sea birds were see* in large numbers. ' High praise is given by Dr Wilson to the staff he has with him. He speak* of each member in very complimentary terms. He points out that it is largely a Cambridge expedition, no fewer than five men having been trained at that University. They are Mr Nelson, Mr Lillie, Mr Griffiths Taylor, Mr Wright, of Toronto, Canada, and Dr Wilson, himself. >

TIIEjSHIP. • ! LIEUTENANT E. £ EVANS, R.N., INTERVIEWED. i BEST OF SHIPS AND BEST j OF MEN. j Lieutenant E. R. Evans, R.N., tht commander of the Terra Nova, was in* terviewed by a representative of tho " Star "as soon as he had resigned the pilotage of his vessel to Captain Thorpe, the acting-harbourmaster. Lieutenant Evans was in the best of high spirits. He had greeted tho arrival of the tu'g with a merry laugh, and the smiles which chased each other across, his countenance continually during the remainder of the voyage into harbour, showed that he, for one, inclined to the belief that this is the best of all possible worlds. Like the majority of tho' naval officers attached to the expedition, he appeared to be very young to hold a position fraught with such gray© responsibility, but it was apparent in conversation Avith him that with him, as in tho case of the others, his experience outweighed his years. " We arrived off the Heads at about eight o'clock last night," he said, in response to a question, " but we didn't care to corns in earlier and inconvenience people in the port, so we just hung around outside. Asked what he thought of the Terra Nova, Lieutenant Evans said: " Everybody is delighted with the ship, and delighted with themselves." He went on to say that he considered the vessel to be in every respect a staunch, handy ship. " I can tell you,' he said, emphatically, "that I consider it a great honour to be in command or sucn a fino craft." He added that no sickness or mishap -of any kind had occurred to any of the party during tho voyage out from Melbourne. There s nothing much to say about the trip cut" he said. "It's been mostly a story of head winds and continuous steaming after the first day out of Port Phillip." In regard to the future plans of the expedition, Lieutenant _ Evans said he could add nothing to what had been already published in Australia. "If I could help you in any way towards information on that point, I would gladly do so," he remarked, but this is Captain Scott's expedition, and when he arrives in Christchurch, as we all hone he will do shortlv, he will. I am sure, give you the fullest information regarding his plans. A TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND. "Everybody has been looking forward to the visit to New Zealand, said Lieutenant Evans. "The men who were out here on tho Discovery and the Nimrod all look forward keenly to re-, visiting your shores. The men xvhohave been bore with previous expeditions have never forgotten the kindly treatment meted out to them by Canterbury, and they never fail to express their appreciation of it whenever they mention their southern travels. They have a; warmer corner in their hearts for 1 Zealand than for any other part of tho Empire." "A SPECIALIST IN NAVIGATION". Asked regarding his own doings sinco he returned to England after the voyage of the Discovery s relief ship Morning, Lieutenant Evans Bpoke reluctantly and briefly. I have just been specialising in navigation, _lie said. On being pressed for further particulars, he added that he had for some little time held command of _the gunboat Dry&dj had been navigating—officer of the cruiser Talbot for twovears, and had then joined the staff or. the Navigation School at Portsmouth. Following the custom of the Navy when officers are "lent" for special services, he and the other naval;men of the expedition had been placed on the books of H.M.S. President, an imaginary, vessel. J ENTHUSIASTIC PRAISE OF HIS LEADER. I ' 1 There have never been a lot of men got together vet who have had mor« confidence in their leader, or who.hav* been prouder to serve under lnm than the party hero on the Terra Nova, said Lieutenant Evans, speaking of Captain Scott. "He is a fine judge of men, and out of about 8000 applicants 1 think he has got about- the "est set of fellows to be found anywhere. Nobodf but Captain Scott could have got them together. Although he is such a dii* tinouished naval officer and explorer,' we'really felt, on the vovage from Simonstown to Melbourne, that he was more like an older brother to us than a superior officer. He has a kiiack of getting the very best work out of his subordinates, and there is not a man on the Terra Nova who would not; rriadlv go through fire and water for him/' ' He added that Captain Scott had, within recent years, held command of the first-class cruiser Essex, the battleships Albemarlo, Victorious and Bulwark, and had also served for some time with the Admiralty. j SCIENTISTS AS COAL-TRIMMERS. Sinco we have done so much steaminp.'/' said the commander, " they have had a pretty busy time in tho engineroom. Most of the coal-trimmmg haa been done by the scientists and tho officers. Tho senior biologist kept the morning watch in tho engine-room thia morning, and he has developed into a most excellent fourth engineer. THE TERRA NOVA AS A SEA BOAT. Asked regarding the behaviour' of his vessel oil the voyage out, Lieutenant Evans said she had proved herself an excellent sea-boat in all weathers. In almost every respect she ( was infinitely a better craft than either tho Nimrod or the Morning. Her accommodation was certainly a vast improvement on that contained in the other two vessels mentioned. She was also a better boat than tho Discovery, though in this instance tho contrast was not so marked. Tho Terra Nova, since her last trip to Australia, he said, had. been employed at sealing, and also as a relief-ship to the American Ziegler Expedition to the Arctic. She had been thoroughly overhauled in the Lordoxi docks before her departure on iier present vovage. HARMONY AMONG ALL HANDS. "This boat ought really to r*« named, and called the ' Harmony.' itt« stead of the Terra Nova," said LieuteiW ant Evans, when called upon to speak regarding his comrades. "We hav» got the right inan for a leader, and. the happiness and ' matey-ness of tha crow is "simply wonderful. All handi are as keen as mustard on the wholfl show, and everybody carries out tha duties assigned to him with the best of •rood grace. It is not a question oi getting them t oturn out to sta**

Ifork, hut of getting them to turn in and take a rest when they need it. They aro all very anxious to get started on the final stage of our southern §ea journey." IN PORT FOR A MONTH. "We shall probably make a stay in Lyttelton of about a month,", continued the lieutenant. " The ship has been at sea since the first of June, and wo will have to have her docked, to get her bottom clean. The ordinary defects which will develop in every wooden ship must be looked for and attended to. Although most of her stores have been so carefully packed ai not to need overhauling, there aro some tilings we have needed on the long uea voyage "from England which wo will not need on the comparatively short run to the Antarctic Continent, and these must be packed and stowed. Then we will have to take aboard the ponies and,the (logs, stow the motor-sledges, and take'in a stock of fresh provisions. We will leave some of the stores wo have brought 'with us in Lyttolton, to be taken south by tho Terra Nova on her second trio south next season." IN THE FO'C'SLE. A "Star" reporter made a brief excursion into that part of the ship reserved for the use of the crew, nnd chatted with a number of the men. The forepart of the ship is divided into two apartments, the lower of which contains tho hammocks of the men, while the upper one is used as a kind of general sitting-room. In the bright morning sunshine which streamed through the hatchway tho place looked a very cheerful sort of habitat. There were pictures on the walls, of the kind which the sailor-man collects upon his travels, and cherishes ever after, and the tables and benches were scrupulously clean. The men themselves were fine big, manly fellows, mostly possessing that bright blue eyo wnich seems to he an especial characteristic of the men of Britain's navy. They ■were cheerful, as indeed tho circumstances warranted at the moment, and they were all inclined to philosophise. They agreed heartily with the opinion that Captain Scott's expedition waS-well-timed. "If we leave it much longer the darn Yankees'll get ahead of us," remarked one muscular sailorman of the tyjie you never see save in the blue garb of the Navy. One of the " t most lovable traits of the British sailor is his affection for animals, , and his knack of training and winning the affection of animal pets. The most prbjniuont object oil the walls of tho men's " residence," as they call it, was a cage containing a small squirrel. The little animal was busily enga'ged in crunching nuts, and appeared quite at homo iii his strange surroundings. A clean bed of paper shavings, of the kind used in paCKing.fragile articles, had been made for the squirrel that morning, so that he, in common with the rest of tho crew, might face the world blameless and unashamed. The rest of the crew, it should be mentioned, were handed out fresh ribbons for their caps, bearing in bright gold lotters the name of their ship. They all expressed pleasure at being in sight of Lyttelton, for those who had not visited it before had been infused • with the enthusiasm of the Antarctic veterans in their midst. " Scotty " Paton, .who was steering the Terra Nova to her moorings, was approached by the: reporter and asked if he was glad to get back to New Zealand. The genial " Scotty " overlooked for once the iniquity of any mere layman who wotxld be guilty of attempting to enter into conversation with the man at tho wheel, and replied emphatically, "Of course I am. I've got my two little girls in Lyttelton (waiting for me." It should he explained that the young ladies are Mr Paton's daughters.

THE EASTERN-'PARTY. THIRTEEN; MONTHS' ISOLATION. EXPLORATION OF KING EDWARD VII. LAND. AN IMPORTANT UNDERTAKING. When the 'main shore party has been landed at M'Murdo Sound, tho Terra Nova will proceed east along the Great Barrier to land a second small party on either King Edward VII. Land or the fixed ice of the Barrier. In command of the party will be Lieutenant V. L. A. C. Campbell, and with him will be five others. Apart altogether from considerations of the personal experiences of the party, particular interest will attach to its work in this unknown region. Lieutenant Campbell, like many other members of the expedition, is a young man, and he is a Royal Navy man. also. He fully appreciates the difficulties and privations that will attend the work which has been entrusted to him, but he is quite confident that, if all their hopes are not realised, tho eastern party will at any rate do good work. I BREAKING NEW GROUND. " After the main party lias been landed at M'Murdo Sound, said Lieutenant Campbell in describing the work of the party, " tho Terra Nova will proceed east along the Great Barrier to land my par-ty. I cannot say where we shall bo landed, as so much depends upon the circumstances that prevail when Ave arrive, but this much is certain that the party will be put ashore either on King Edward "VII. Land or on the fixed ice of the Barrier, at the eastern end. 1 feel pretty certain that we shall be able to establish tho party in some suitable spot, approximately 500 miles east of the western party." " VVe shall he breaking entirely new ground t continued Lieutenant Camphell. "So far King Edward VII. Land has been seen only from a distaiiCA, though sufficient observations were made to establish tho existence of a land formation. What we shall have to_ do is to find out as much about the region as we possibly can." THE MEMBERS OF THE PARTY. 1 Lieutenant Campbell will make, his first acquaintance with the Antarctic on the present expedition, but he is by 110 means unfamiliar with ice conditions. ■■ During the ])ast five or six years, he has paid several visits to the ice-nelds of Norway, and has gained experienco that should be of use to him as commander of the eastern party. He will be accompanied by I)r G. ]y[ Levick, surgeon and zoologist, a geologistwho has not yet been selected", and G. P. Abbott, F. V. Browning and Jiickerson, able seamen. , j THE EQUIPMENT. 1 A small hut, twenty feet square, will be the metropolis of tho territory for over a year. From it, the partv will carry on its work over as wide a radius as possible, In it will bo their stores, their instruments, and their life, completely isolated from tho world and the roam party until the time comes for them to return to civilisation. The eastern party will be provided with sledges and ponies, but 110 dogs will be jtaken for that branch of the expedition's work. "What are wo going to do? Just as much as we possibly can,'" said Lieutenant Campbell, continuing his narrative. "Wo don't know anything of the condition of the ice for travelling. It may bo good or so badly Orevassed that our sledging operations may be very much restricted, but we are going into new regions and we want to find out all we can. First of all. wo frill endeavour to ascertain the extent of the land formation, which mav bo . confined to one or moro islands. Then w& shall survey it and map as much of it as possible." 1 SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONS. I " The geological characteristics of the region will be closely studied by members of the party," Lieutenant Camphell continued, " and systematic observations will be made of the life of that part of the Antarctic. We shall have a complete equipment of meteorological apparatus, and that will be utilised in »n important part of our work, as the oottlparisons that "will be made between limult'aneous observations of the meteorological conditions at stations situated 500 miles apart will be of great yalue. Yes," he admitted, "there will be plenty of work for six of us»"

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK. Before tlie Nimrod loit England, Lieutenant Sliackleton had decided that ho would establish his base on King Edward VII. Laud, instead of at the Discovery winter.quarters in M'Murdo Sound, so that. bo might break entirely new ground, but bis narrative states that the plans were completely, so far as this particular matter was concerned, ' upset by the demands of the situation.'' Tim way was absolutely* blocked by ico, and it was very regretfully that Shackleton gave orders tlmt the ship was to be turned and steered for M/Murdo Sound. Tho importance that lie attached to that region was made very clear in his book. " A fleeting glimpse of bare rocks and high snow slopes," he wrote, " was all that wo obtained of it on the Discovery expedition, and had we been able to establish our winter quarters thcro wo could have added greatly to our knowledge of tho geography of that region. There would perhaps have been more difficulty in the attempt to reach tho South Pole from that base, but ! did not expept that the route from thero to the Barrier surface, from which we could make a, fair start to tbo Polo, would•'have been impracticable. T did not give up the destined base of outexpedition without a strenuous struggle . . . but the forces of these uncontrollable ice-packs aro stronger than human resolution, and a change of plans was forced on tis."' _Tho importance of exploration iu King .Edward \ IT. Land has been recognised .by Captain Scott, and provided ho is successful in establishing a party there, with the unknown region alono to occupy its attention, the expedition should achieve very valuable results in adding to the knowledge already possessed regarding the geographical and climatic, conditions of the Antarctic Continent.

MICROSCOPIC LIFE, . BACTERIA AND PARASITES. The scientific, staff of the expedition is the largest that liar, ever been assembled for investigations in Polar regions, and it will carry out a great 'deal of work of a diameter that has not been attempted before. The expeditions that have penetrated the high latitudes of" the north have always Had one definite object, to which everything else was made subordinate, and although a great deal of valuable scientific work was done in connection with the last two British expeditions to the Antarctic, the plans.of the Terra Nova expedition will be 011 a much greater scale. Dr E. L. Atkinson explained this morning that his investigations into the bacteriology and parasitology of the Antarctic would be virtually a new undertaking. A certain amount of work of that class had been done by the Discovery and Nimrod expeditions, but neither had brought back many results. A number of worriis had been studied, but only a fow species had been described. One new species was found during the Discovery expedition. "We know," said Dr Atkinson, " that bacteria and parasites exist ill the Antarctic, and I hope to bo able to ascertain something oT their character. The blood and intestinal parasites of the fauna will be the subject of special study, and very careful investigations will be made with a view to discovering distinctive characteristics attributable to the adaptation of theso organisms to the excessive cold. The transmission of parasitisms from bird to bird or seal to seal will also be studied, and if I find that there is such a change of these micro-organisms, the methods and nature of the transmission will bo investigated." ' The summer months, Dr Atkinson explained, would be devoted to the collection of materia] for examination during the winter months, and he anticipated that he would be able to find sufficient material to occupy'a great deal of time after the expedition returned. " Bacterial organisms," he added, " have been found in the Antarctic, a«ri it is only a question of collecting and classifying them." Dr Atkinson has made a special Study of micro-photography, but he said that he would not rely very much on the assistance that photographic work would afford. SCIENTIFIC LABORATORIES. Before the Terra Nova left London, some additions were made to her deck fittings. Theso included a small deckhouse, divided into four laboratories, erected on the port side of the poop. Externally, the little structure is "wondrous neat and clean," with its white paint and bright brass fittings. Furthest forward is the zoologists' laboratory, adjoining it the ornithologist's and the physicists' laboratories, and the fourth is the sj>ecial domain of the photographers of the expedition. To shore-folk, these quarters appear terribly confined in proportion 'to the amount of work that will have to be done in them, but Dr Atkinson assured the reporter that they were "all right," and he 110 doubt expressed the opinion of the other members of the scientific staff. At present, one or two of the little rooms have been poached by someone as storerooms for sea-boots and that sort of thing, but even when they are cleared of everything except the scientific apparatus, it is doubtful whether the ship s cat " Nigger " would bo able to enter any of them when there was a scientist at work within.

THE PERSONNEL. PREVIOUS POLAR EXPERIENCE. Lieutenant Evans told a "Star" ropbrtor that' a number of the naval men and sailors aboard the Terra Nova had hfid previous Antarctic experience, amongst them of course, the leader, Captain Scott, himself, and Messrs E. Evans, 11. N., F. Crean, R.N., and T. S. Williamson, R.N., petty officers: "VV. Smvthe, tho shipwright; W. H. Neald, steward; W. Lashley, chief stoker; T. Feather, boatswain, in charge of the sledges; A. Cheatham, second boatswain., and J. Paton, able seaman. He added that Mr Feather was boatswain of the Discovery on Captain Scott's last voyage to the Antarctic, Messrs Lashley and Evans were members of Captain Scott's western party, Mr Cheetham was boatswain of bath the Morning and Nimrod, while Mr Paton was a Lytteltou man who had also served with both the Morning and Nimrod. Dr E. Wilson, the chief of the scientific staff of the Terra Neva, occupied a similnr position in both the Scott and Shackleton expeditions. Lieutenant Victor Campbell, who was to have charge of tho eastern party, had done a considerable amount of ski-nig and , sledge-travelling on the icefields of Norway, and his experience in these directions would doubtless stand the present expedition in good stead. Lie had also many years' experience as a naval officer and had recently retired from the Navy. SOME OF THE OFFICERS. Lieutenant Evans also complied with a request that he should give some information regarding other officers of the Terra Nova, and stated that Lieutenant 'B. L. G. Peime:i, R.M.. in. addition to being an expert in magnetic and meteorological .work, was a distinguished navigntinK officer. In the Navy he had otbninod five first-class certificates for promotion marks in his examination for the rank of lieutenant. Lieutenant Penneli would assume command of the Terra Nova when he (Lieutenant Evans) joined Captain Scott with the western party. Lieutenant 11. E. de P. Renwick, R.N., was also a first-class navigating officer and had specialised in navigation. He had had many years' experienco of surveying service. Lieutenant liowers came from the Indian Marine, and he had held command of one ship and attained to the position of chief officer of the steamship Loch Tcrredon when he was i only twenty-one. Other naval officers with tho expedition were I)r G. M. Levick, surgeon, who would accompany Lieutenant Campbell as medical officer, photographer and Kooloaist, and Sur-

geon E. L. Atkinson, who would join the western party as bacteriologist and parasitologist. 'Mr Francis 'Drake. R.N., tho secretary %f tho expedition, had seen many years' service in the Navy, and had been attached to the staff of Prince Henry of Battenburg. He would act as secretary to Captain Scott. Catrtain Oates, of the Inniskilling Dragoons, was a military officer of ripe experience, who would assist Mr Meares with the ponies and dogs. THE RANK AND FILE. The remainder of the men on the roll were all specially picked men from the Navy. Nearly all of them ranked in the Navy as first-class petty officers and had shipped for this expedition as able seamen. NOT AFTER GOLD. BETTER PLEASED WITH FOSSILS. Dr "Wilson was asked on the Terra Nova if it was true that the scientists expected or hoped to find gold in the Antarctic. Ko laughed and said: ''l. don't, know that there is any reason-to expect that gold deposits exist there. I don't know why they should bo there any moro than in any other part of the world. Some people seem jjt> think that because there are masses of bare rocks and hard soil, and because tho land is desolate and forbidding, there must necessarily bo gold. I know that the western party, to which I will be attached, does not expect to find gold. Wo will bo much more pleased if we discover some fossits or a fresh parasite, or something else that will add to the world's knowledge of the Antarctic continent.'" CONGRATULATIONS' A MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER. The first message Lieutenant Evans received when the Terra Nova came alongside the wharf was a congratulatory ' telegram from the Prime Minister. It is as follows Lieutenant Evans, Terra Nova.—-I extend a liparty welcome to yourself, officers and men upon your arrival in the dominion, and I trust your mission under Captain Scott will prove successful. I look forward with pleasure to meeting you before you depart.-—J. G. Ward." MOTES. T'ue Terra Nova loft London on .June i. and although a stop of three weeks was made at Cape Town, with a shorter stay at Melbourne, both officers and men expressed delight at having readied Lyttelton. In the forecastle the expressions of pleasure at the sight of the port and its background of hills were particularly enthusiastic. The best run during the voyage from Home that was made under sail alone was entered in the log on September 14. The vessel was then on tho way to Cape Town, and during the twentyfour hours she covered 183 miles without any assistance from her engines. Just before Simon's Bay was reached 227 miles were covered in one day with the aid of both forms of power.