CAPTAIN SCOTT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10439, 19 April 1912, Page 3

CAPTAIN SCOTT.

LETTER TO FEDERAL ATTORNEYGENERAL. A SPIRIT OF HOPE. The full text of a letter from Captain Scott to the Federal Attorney-General, Mr W. M. Hughes, which was mentioned in the cablegrams a few days ago, was published in Sydney newspapers last Saturday. The letter is as follows: "Winter Quarters, Oct. 31, 1911.

" Dear Mr -Hughes,—Wo leave tomorrow on our journey to the south with great hope of accomplishing our purpose and reaching tho Polo. But as it must necessarily be a big- -job, it is moro than possible that T shall not be hack in time to meet the Terra. Nov"a. Under these circumstances 1 cannot let the mail go without a. line to tell you of our welfare, as I hold the pleasantest memory of your visit to the ship, your kindness to us in Melbourne, and the ! support that your Government afforded the expedition. | "In a cabo whore notes have to be taken, the element of chance must play I its part, and, therefore, it is impossible to 1)0 moro than hopeful that we shall pull through all right,; but what I am sure you will believe is that we shall do our very best to deserve the confidence that has been reposed in us. As chief i of the expedition 1 can go_ furthor and state that if failure coines it will not be the fault of my companions. A better set of people never joined an expedition. One and nil are fit, healthy, and eager to go forward. " We have been tho happiest family during our stay here. There has not been a single row of any sort. That is saying a good deal for 2G people cooped up in a hut during an Antarctic winter, and even moro when it is remembered that those people are drawn from various parts of the Empire, and have very diverse antecedents. (1 shall become a prophet of Imperial Federation!) "I am especially pleased to tell you that your two Australians, Taylor and Debenham, are amongst the most popular members of our community One of them, Taylor, is returning this year, because it is felt that ho ought to take up hia duties in the Commonwealth. I have asked him to call on you, as I think you will bo interested to have a talk with him. I especially commend him to you as a very brilliant young man, with a future, and his capacity is so exceptional that I think he is bound to go a great way. " It is early to talk of success—that is in the lap of the future —-but I think Professor David will be exceedingly pleased with the progress we have already made towards the solution of the scientific problems. In the end wo filial! have a mass of material which will well repay all outlay on tho expedition, judged bv scientific standards; but you, as a. practical politician, and I. as a practical explorer, can scarcely be contented with that, and I hope that wo shall both have causo to rejoice at something which appeals more largely to the sentiment of our race. I make bold to include yon. as I know you are in svmpathy with our work. "Well, we shall do the best we can, in spite of such set-backs as we suffered last season in the loss of some of our best ponies. Those that remain now ought- to carry us through as far as ponies can lie used, and for the rest wo must relv on our own thews and sinews. The strong probability is that when you read these lines you will have received much Inter information than I am able to give you now, and I can only trust that all will be good news.

'' Meanwhile, will you please remember me most' kindly to your fellow Ministers. who entertained ns .«m cordially during our stay at Melbourne. I would especially wish to send my regards to Mr Batchelor, Mr Tudor, Mr Macgrogor, Mr O'Malley nnd your ■ Speaker (whose personality has evidently impressed mo more than his name, 1 »in stupid enough to forget the latter). With all good wishes I subscribe nivsell. voiirs sincerely. "R. SCOTT."