CAPTAIN AMUNDSEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10442, 23 April 1912, Page 1

CAPTAIN AMUNDSEN.

ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND. A RETICENT HERO. [From Our Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, April 22. The hero of the South Pole and discoverer of the North-west Passage, Captain Roald Amundsen, who arrived in Auckland from Sydney by the Maheno yesterday, scarcely realises in appearance the popular idea of an explorer A lithe and sinewy frame, he does not suggest any reserve power of exceptional physioal endurance. His stay in the dominion will ba very brief, since he is obliged to leave by the Remuera for Buenos Ayres to pick up his polar ship Pram, which is to be fitted out there for the North Polar voyage upon which Captain Amundsen will embark next year. From Buenos Ayres, however, he will first make a hurried visit to Christiania, Copenhagen, Berlin, Rome and London, to accept cabled invitations of the Geographical Society in each city to speak of the discoveries made in the South Pole expedition. Australia and New Zealand are being first favoured with a narrative of this btorv.

" Yes, but there is not much that I can say," smilingly replied the explorer when a reporter asked him the obvious question this morning. This is as it may be, or it may seem. The conquest of the frozen Antarctic wastes, the perilous passage of mighty crevasses yawning hideously beneath -their icebridges, the interminable climbing and descending of the ragged, icebound continent, and the dreary silent monotony of the great white" desert may all seem just ordinary incident to this Norseman, whose cradle was on the fringe of the everlasting frosts and a great part of whose life has been spent in playing hide and seek with icebergs in their birthplaoe. But as Captain Amundsen's strong, though benevolentlooking, features are broken with that slow smile one wonders how much of mental reservation .there lies behind it. The first impression one gathers upon meeting the explorer is one almost of astonishment. Where is the fierceeyed, hard-bitten, brawny conqueror of Nature's most hostile and impenetrable fortressP The famous Norwegian, though fairly broad of shoulder and well enough set up, conveys to one a seufe of almost well-to-do benevolence, a man of about middle-age, blessed with pretty robust health, indulging a quiet desire to travel round places and see things comfortably. It is only when one more closely inspects him and notices the occasional glint in the pale blue eyes that one suspecte Captain Amundsen in tourist tweeds and Captain Amundsen in polar furs at the head of his expedition to be two personalities, both kindly by nature and interesting, but difficult to recognise in casual glances as the one and indivisible same.

Although the famous explorer so modestly denies that he has much to sav, the thaw of conversation realises sufficient to arouse a distinct feeling of enmity for the clock on the part of his listener. The superiority of dogs and of skis for polar -exploration work is broached. ' Ah, yes," he declares involuntarily. " There can be no question about the value of dogs. I can't understand anyone choosing horses in preference. They are tso light, they do not sink into the soft snow, and require so littlo to eat. Their energy is fierce and exhaustless. We could not keep up with _ our clogs, they were so strong and willing. You see the immense value in being able to conserve all your energy instead of having to use it in hauling sledges. Yon sur-' mount difficulties with ease that to worn-out men seem insurmountable, and your spirits remain buoyant. That is a very great thing down in the Ant T . arctio, you know," and he smiled reminiscentlv.

" les, and the skis. With them you can cross crevasses with impunity wliere men in heavy boots would labour with great danger. All polar explorers should be expert ski-men. In Norway we put skis on our horses in winter time. It is astonishing how quickly they, become accustomed to them in three or four days. I notice that tho leading ponies wore skis in Scott's expedition. I think they should all have worn them." But the captain declined to be led on to a further discussion of the British expedition, beyond expressing the conviction that Captain Scott would have no difficulty in reaching the Pole.

" What about the awful silences of the Antarctic which are said to affect one's sleep?" He smiled again. "Silence, yes; but I love it. T am used to it. I cannot imagine it could prevent one from sleeping. I think, indeed. that is what you call exaggeration."

In speaking of the two routes, the one he chose and that bv way of the Beardmore Glacier taken by Captain Scott, tho Norwegian discoverer was reticent about making comparisons. "When I am in Christ-church," he said, " I shall talk the routes over with the members of Captain Scott's expedition. If the time occupied in climbing tho Beardmore Glacier proves to be what I have been told, T begin to wonder if mine was the easier route. We were fortunate in not meeting any very great bliaaards, but 1 suspect our dogs and knowledge of using skis had much to do with the rapid progress wo were able to make."

Next year Captain Amundsen will attempt to drift in the Fram right across the polar basin from Bel)ring Strait to Greenland. "There will be no attempt to reach the North Pole," he declared. "It is really for the purpose of studying the polar currents and characteristics of that region generally."

LECTURE TN AUCKLAND. [Per Pkkss Association.] AUCKLAND, April 22. Captain Amundsen lectured on his journey to the .South Pole to a great audience in the Town Hall to-night. The explorer received a most enthusias-

tic reception, and was welcomed by the Governor on behalf of the country and the city of Auckland. Captain Amundsen illustrated his narrative with a series of excellent pictures.

THE VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH. Arrangements were made by the Council of tho Canterbury Philosophical Institute and the Mayor to give a civic reception to Captain Amundsen on his arrival in Cliristchurch on Friday, but Dr L. Cockayne, president of the Institute, waited on the Mayor yesterday and stated that Captain Amundsen's representative had informed him that the explorer would not accept a civic reception. The function, therefore, , will not be held. Mr H. B. Soremen, who is acting on behalf of Norwegian residents in Cliristchurch, is somewhat puzzled at the statement made to Dr Cockayne. On Saturday. Mr Sorensen telegraphed to Captain Amundsen at Auckland, asking if he would meet the Norwegians at the civic reception at noon on Friday, and go on a motor drive with them later in the day, and if so what time would he convenient for the drive. The reply was, "Yes; 3 p.m." Yesterday, Mr Sorensen sent another message, stating that he had been informed that the visitor could not attend the civic reception, -and adding: "Does this include the Norwegians, or will you receive us separately at the same tirrie and place?" Up till a late hour last night no reply had been received to the second message.