The West Coast Times WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28, 1914. THE CALL OF THE ANTARCTIC.

West Coast Times, 28 January 1914, Page 2

The West Coast Times WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28, 1914. THE CALL OF THE ANTARCTIC.

That the quiet heroism in the face of tragic hardships and the menace of cieath of which Captain Scott and his comrades have left a striking record is a traditional British national characteristic that vigorously survives is attested by the response that is being made to the call of the Antarctic in this present year. Enterprise would seem, to have been stimulated rather than deterred by the fate of the gallant explorers who, in the words of a writer to “The Times,” by the splendid courage of their death “have lighted a lamp which shall never go out.” The glow of it is shining at the present moment in a very definite quarter. Even before Dr. Mawson and his company have returned to civilisation two new British expeditions are being organised for nest year. One of these, which is to be under the command of Sir Ernest Shackleton, giips the imagination particularly as daring in conception. Sir Ernest Shackleton intends, -if possible, to find the answer to the great geographical question which Antarctic exploration ha.' raised. "That question is whether, 1 ns is surmised, the Polar cap consists of a huge continental mass of which the various bits of land discovered by explorers are portions or at least coastal island*. He means, therefore, to traverse the cap from the Weddell fW, on the opposite side of the circle to ourselves,' right ftC'i'OSS tq the -Ross

Sen, which' is almost due south of us. j He will. Have to start off, into tho un- j known carrying with him all the provisions needed by himself and his comrades for a journey of about five months. There will he no depots laid along the route, except, perhaps, for two or three hundred miles at the end in the neighbourhood of Boss Sea. As these will not he laid by the trans-Polar party, but by the party that goes to meet it, they cannot bo absolutely relied on, and Shackleton’s . own little company must be equipped

•ui we cnance oi not. striKing tnem. All the way to the Polo ho will be traversing entirely new ground. It is not known whether it is sea, ice, or land that stretches the greater part of the way from the Weddell Sea to the Pole. Tho prevailing opinion, however, is L>l»t n ,..1. !. 1. a. 1. 11 1 . * .

that the Plateau on which the Polo itself is situated slopes gradually down towards the sea and that in ascending to it the explorers will not have so hard a task as the climb up the Beardir.ore glacier.” The foregoing description of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s intentions indicates the stupendous nature of AntflrTirifiP line in vinu-

or me enterprise he has in view, which has elicited from Captain Amundsen a warm expression of good wishes for a ‘'magnificent undertaking.” The appeal for contributions towards the eost of the expedition is said to he meeting with a generous response. 'Hie other British Antarctic expedition on behalf of which an appeal is now being made will command public sympathy ag aiming at a continuation of Captain Scott’s work. The purpose of this expedition is to explore King Edward the Seventh Land, n project which Captain Scott wholeheartedly approved of and, we are told, committed to Mr. ,T. Foster Stackhouse, one of his intimate friends. Mr. Stackhouse relates that before setting out on his last expedition to the South Pole, Captain Scott urged him to undertake the duty! of commanding a scientific expedition to this region in order to explore and survey the coast line and as much of

the interior ’as possible, and at the same time to determine the currents ami the drift of the ire 'hi this unknown territory. Mr. Stackhouse has been successful, wo read, in securing Captain Scott’s old ship, the Discovery, for the purposes of his undertaking. It seems very probable that the Antarctic will also he visited in the i near future by an Austrian exploration party, the Austrian Geographical Society having organised an expedition, we arc told, to continue the work begun by Lieutenant Filchner. This party, like that commanded by Sir Ernest Shackletou, will land, it seems, at the Weddell Sea, hut a transcontinental journey is apparently not contemplated. , In the short hut 'pregnant preface which he contributes to the recently published volumes entitled “Scott’s Last Expedition,” Sir Clements Markham answers the question which is sometimes raised by puzzled or cynical minds with regard to Polar expeditions and similar ventures. “What is the good of it?” they ask. “The principal aim of this great man,” says Sir Clements Markham of Captain Scott, “was the advancement cl knowledge.” His object was mainly scientific. H was to complete and extend his former work in all branches of science, and his ambition was to have “the most completely equipped expedition for scientific purposes connected with the Polar regions, both as regards men and material, that over left these shores.” In this, Sir Clements adds, ho succeeded, and the proof is found in the volumes containing the story of his expedition. The results, we are told on the highest authority, are extensive and important. To quote Captain Scott’s own words, “After all it’s the work that counts, not the applause that follows.”

A large number of the Runanga and Blackball workers are very sore ove; the late strike. They declare they wenled into tlie ditch by the strike-mong-ors. Some of the men say it will take them and their families a year or more to get over the loss the strike entailed on them.

Before the late strike tlie drapers and store-keepers in the Grey district experienced a great demand for red ties. Since the eollapse of the strike red ties are discarded. They are a symbol which the Grey month workers are now ashamed of. The genuine workers after all are in tlie great majority.

In .giving his verdict in a case against a young man for using obscene language in a train and with obstructing the guard, Magistrate Hewitt stated at Greyinouth on Monday that although lie had inflicted comparatively severe penalties in the past, Sis experience during the recent holidays had convinced him that some of the travellers by train required something, more, and the offender wag fined £lO for his behaviour. Call for Watson’s No. 10 on all occasions.—Advt.

East evening the Dominion Meteorologist telegraphed the folowing weather summary and forecast,: “The barometer has fallen every where,. and increasing northerly winds have been rather sultry, and rain has fallen in the moot northern and (southern districts, hut fair,to cloudy conditions have ruled. Present indications are for a further fall in the barometer, which is likely to go low in the south. High northerly and westerly winds are probable generally, with warm and humid conditions; increasing cloudiness and rain following generally in the next two or three days, for a storm area appears to be developing to the westward.”

The price paid for water from the Government water races at Westbrook is beginning to agitate the minds ’of the miners there, some steps will be taken shortly to approach the Department to have the .pice reduced. The miners state it is in excess of that which they expected to pay when the race was extended to the north side of the river. It is stated that since the beginning of the present year only one party is really using the water. The Mines Department state that the charge for water is really low, and the recognised rate, all over the goldfields. The extension of the race across the Teramakau and attendant works , have cost about £98.000.

Our entire stock of ladles" millinery has _heen re-marked at still lower prices which will ensure a speedy clearance. Call early to secure your cboiec.—Misses Addison.

A political wne adopted by I the university Senate yesterday as a subjects of an essay for the. Hoyden prise, 1814, given for too encouragement of Imperial sentiment.v The question is: “Local navies iir .monetary aid or other, contributipns to .the Imperial Navy—which will better maintain the sea power of llritain,” etc;. ’ Among the passengers who arrived in 1 (Ireymouth from Christchurch last ' night and who made the journey in > Cassidy and Co’s coaches were the foli lowing: Me%rs Wharton, Turner, Din, 1 Britten, Miller, Waller, Kngland, Scullv. P. George. Morrow, L. George,

Brewer, Paterson, Ward, Smith, Griffen, Rutherford, Duncan, Rutherford; Mesdames Brewer, Millar, Richardson, Roche, Miller; Misses Richardson, Gils, Smith, Gills.

The 24th of next month in a notable anniversary in the history'* of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent which served in the last South African war. In an engagement that day 23 were killed and 41 wounded. There are 600 surivors to tell the story of the fight and, a committee, of which Mr. Esam of the Advances Office, Wellington is secretary, has in hand a commemoration reunion of the men of the 7th on the coming anniversary.

The following is a copy of a cable scut to tbe London office on Monday of tlie Progress Mines of New Zealand, Limited:—“ No. 35 east drive—results to date: The first 35ft mil previously reported, are unpayable; the next 18ft gave lf)./54dwts; the next 10ft average value is lOdwts. The reef is still in the face, except at top of south side of the reef. It appear,; to be pitching south. Considerable development work will be necessary before the full extent and value of this body will be known.” The following passengers left firoyinouth by the Arahura on Monday evening for Wretport, Nelson, Pictuii and Wellington: —Misses Hawke:;, Anderson, Hansen, Morgan, M’Kay, Morris, Bray (2), Loftus, M’Kny; Meieri; Heaps, Mann, Bray, Clin.-lie, Blake, Doherty, Percy, M’Lennan, Bray (2), Onlinnn, Uiw, Cox, .Melville, Todd, Onnliffo, Masters Cunliffe and Edwards; Mesdames Davidson and boy, Bray, Beck, Kohertson, Stubbs and three children, Todd, Handsock and two children. Kettle, M’Kay, Mundy, Doherty, O’N'iell and child, Collins and two children, and M’Millan and four children. *

Sale ! Sale ! 'Now is the time to purchase your cotton frocks at greatly reduced prices.—Misses Addison.

There is a very strong feeling in (ireymouth against the lied Feds, or a fi they now call themselves. “SocialDemocrat.-.” Last w r eek, Mr. I*. C.

Webb, M.P.,-interviewed the President and Secretary of the new Waterside Workers’ Union and asked that he should he allowed to address the union. The question was submitted to the members and they ’ decided by about 103 against two not to hear Mr. Webb. The new union is largely composed of

steady and settled workers with families, and they seem determined not to allow any of the Red Feel, element, to domiitate or cause trouble. A large number of the old union are now members of the new body.

Are the Standard Oil Company in Taranaki yet? asked a reporter of Mr. Van Kpps, the American expert. “I don’t know,” said Mr. Van Kpps, “but yon can be sure that, the Standard Oil Company know as much about the Moturoa field as the people up there know themselves. To show the scale on

which the Standard Oil Company operate, I will give you ,1 piece of news, that 1 have just received from California about them. They have purchased the Murphy Oil Company's properties’ at Whittier, fourteen miles from Ijos Angeles, and at Coyote Hills, ten miles beyond Whittier, very valuable properties .comprising' 3004 acres of very productive wells. Tire production of the property now is about. 280,000 barrel? a month. For this they havo paid forty-two m’llion dollars.” Our great' clearing sale of summe: goods will continue during this week ending on Saturday, 31st inst. Further Bargains are showing in all de. part.mnuts.—Misses Addison.

()u Monday a most unfortunate accident occurred at Arntika. Messn Waller-and England's new “lokey ” got away coining down a steep incline, and after dashing along at breakneck speed pitched a somersault down the hill. The driver, Mr. Martin, jammed on the brakes and reversed the eng'ne, lint, through a link breaking (he connection between the fore and aft wheels was broken off, and the machinery would not answer. -Mr. Martin then shouted to-hig assistant and jumped clear. The youth, who appears not to have heard him, stuck, to his post until, the “lokey” was in the act of overturning. It is a miracle ho escaped unhurt. This most unfortunate accident will probably throw the mill idle for n month.’ Mr. Marshall’s mill at the Silver Pino, Kotnkn, together with Messrs Jack Bros, mill at Kotuku, have resumed running. Tlie death is announced of Mrs Mary

Martin, widow of the late Captain

Martin, and a very old and much respected resident of Oreytnouth, who passed away at her residence on Tuesday morning. Airs Martin was liorn in Hightgate, Eondon, in 1841, and arrived in Grey mouth in 1865 with her husband, who predeceased' her by twerityfour veal's. She was thus one of the early pioneers 'and remembers Greymonth as a “calico settlement.’ Eater phe kept an hotel known as the “Cove of Cork ”at the comer of Arney Street and Richmond Quay, but the big flood in 1872 carried the hotel and all its contents over the bar, leaving the occupants with nothing but what they -stood up in—only their attiie. A fter passing through the trying ups «nd downs of the earlv days she lest her husband at sen and her son in the Boer war. She leaves three sons mid one daughter to mourn the loir, of a loving and devoted mother, and with them profound sympathy will be felt. Wrßing on the subject of the foundation of the colony of New Zealand and the influence of the Scotsmen thereon, “Old Identity,” in the Wellington Dominion, says:—“lt was chiefly through the action of one of the Magistrates of Glasgow, Mr. John Fleming, of Clairmont, that New Zealand was retained as a British possession. He was about the first, it not the first, man in the Kingdom to d'reet the attention of the Government to the possibilities of New Zealand as a British settlement. He took up the mailer with enthusiasm, and, enlisting the

fervmn' 1 of such men as Dr. Norman Maclovl, Sheriff Allison and Lord Ptove.ct Turns den. convened a meeting »n tha Glasgow Athenaeum on May 15th, iS-ift which was the means of arousing public attention to the question all ever the country, and brought about tho annexation of islands in time to prevent their massing into the bends r f the french. Jt was donhtWs the n „t. come of Glasgow’s connection with the appropriation of the islands for Or--*-Britain That New Zealand was largely colonised hv Scotsmen.”

The: annual meeting of All, Sainte’ Institute will be held this evening at S p.m., at AH Saints’ schoolroom. , The late Mr. Walter Steward, who was killed by falling down the hdld-'.of tlu Taimii at Timnrn recently, was a brother of the late Sir William Steward.

It is the intention of Mr. \V. .1. Mo11att, who stood as an Independent Liberal at the last election, to again contest the Nelson city scat at the forthcoming election.

The Oroymouth Walemiders Union (Arh.tralion) has now a' strength of 160 and there are in addition 120 application* for membership. To-day the Union meet the Shipping Companies in connection with the now agreement. It s understood that the old award will be adopted with the exception of enc clause relating to payment for work after five o’clock on Saturday. At pity sent the men are receiving 3g 4d an hour for this work, but the Companies wish to reduce it to-2* 6d per hour. The men do not favour this, and this point will Ins thrashed out at the conference.

A rumour has gained currency in the southern portion of the Ashburton eleotoiate to the effect tlijt the sitting member, Mr. W. Nosworthy, 1 intends to contest tne Solwyn seat at the next general election. The Christchurch “Press” states that there fc.no foundation whatever for the rumour. Mr. Nosworthy has never even once thought of doing so, and he will again contest the Ashburton sent, no matter who, or how many others, may come forward as candidates.

Amongst the passengers who left for Christchurch yesterday were the following:—Mofidames Illackie, Young. M. F„ Morish, N. Green, 0. Thomas,

A.’ Pass, H. P. Stark, «. R. Cross. H. Jones, M. Oiftscking, Halsey. Soowe, Phillips, Flowers. Mann, Parkin and Norman; Misses A. Ryan, F. Mclntyre, M. Oill. McShane, Jones. Lindsay, B. Hall, OTeseking, Mnkn, M. Stowell, 0. L. Casey, 11. Henderson, M. R. Watkin, fi, Kemplhorne, Moss, Voting Blackie, Parfitt, Riley, Mcllroy. L. Kortegast, J. O’Connor and K. Foster; Messrs Rutherford, M. Gibson. M. Hod gyms, J. Abel. A. Webb, R. Fenton, A. M. Little, Hough. Gough. Brown, R. T. C. Roberts, F. M. Smith, J. R. Green, J. Murray, R. A. Axeken. A. Pass, W. T. Joneo. H. Jones, J. Giokeking, C. Rees. Hr. Phillips and Malster W. Giesebing. 'Tho vVeVr that wiM please your palate—Watson’s No, 10.—Advfc. A Christchurch press message reports that the stable of Mr. B. Cutts, trainer for Sir Geo. Clifford, was completely destroyed by fire early last evening. The fire broke out shortly before 8 p.m., and is supposed to have been caused through wax matches being dropped in the straw in the loft above the stables. The fire spread with great rapiditv. No water was available and the who!" budding was soon as a mass of mins. About twentv-five horses wer" in the stable at the time, hut they were en out unscathed from their hoxrs.nnd plac'd in a paddock. Among the horses were Autumns. Antagonist. Glenfinnnn. Xightwatch and Hentherhrae. One witness in the Greynumlh S.M. Court on Monday admitted to consul that he had of late been the “subject” of hypnotic tests »t the hands of one or two travelling shows, whose principals declared they were possessed of nicsmer c influences, hut when counsel suggested that such tests had some effect on the imagination of witness, the hitter vehemently protested against such an absurdity. Ho further admitted that lie had travelled as far as Recftori with one of the “ Professors” and that ,f his Worship desired it lu would let the Bench into the secrets oi hypnotics as revealed to witness (and for which the witness had been paid t( accept and act thereon), hut he was not going to give the learned consul or 1 others the benefit of hi* experience oi divulge the secrets of the profession in the open court. His Worship did not accept tlie proffered confidence of tin witness to initiate the Bench into the mysteries of hypnotism us expounded by the Norwoods and others, and, not being apropos to the charge before the court, the witness still holds’ the “secrete,”', so far as the public examination into the alleged use of “insulting words ” arising out of the recent strike is concerned.* Fine old Scotch of fncomnsrabt

quality—Watson’s No. 10.— idrt. A meeting of the General Committee in connection with the Westland Goldfields Jubilee was held at the County Chambers feat evening, Mr. J. Grim-

mund being In the chair. Vote of thanks were passed to all those who had assisted at the various celebrations, including the New Zealand Government for the promised subsidy, Mr and Mrs H. D .51. Haszard who so kindly entertained their Excel loncife, Mr and Mrs SV. Staveley, and the ladies and gentlemen who had assisted in the production of the opear “lies Cloches de Corneville," Mrs W. Duncan who generously jilnred “ Oamton ”at the disposal of the Cadies Committee for the garden party, the laid tea Committee which hud assisted so splendidly at the various functions, the ladies and gentlemen who had helped at the concert and ball, slr. 1. F. de Berry and others who had helped at the sports meeting, including the young, lad.es who hail taken the gate, achieving a record for the Square, Messrs Mark Sprot and Co. for selling the rights free of charge, Lieut. Colonel Macfarlane who acted as Marshall, Sergt.-Major Watts and the military officers who helped in various way?, the Superintendent and officers of the Fire Brigade, Mr. W. E. Perry and the members of the United Choir, the Hokitika Borough staff, the Hokitika, Greymouth, and Kokatahi hands, the press, including the illustrated papers, the public who assisted in the decorations, and all subscribers and well-wishers. A very special vote was iil-o passed to the Chairman and Secretaries for their work. A number of accounts wore isuhm'.tUd and also particulars of the collections. It was resolved to complete the collections and get the outstanding accounts and submit an audit of iho finances at a final moving to he held on the 10th iest. Messrs J. J. Clarke and ■!.. H. Wsleon were appointed auditors. The Chairman expressed his great satisfaction at the happy and successful manner in which the' whole function had passed off. remark'd which were endorsed by Messrs Pollock, Jeffries, Sellers, Duff, Wallace, Mclntosh' and others. Messages were read from ex-We«t Coasters in Melhourns, Sydney, ano various parts of New Zealand, conveying their good wishes and hopin th ereunlon turned out sucp-dfully. The meeting then adjourned for a, fortnight.

Writes Mr. J. Dratemond, F.L.B. F.Z.S.'fin the Lytellon Times; It has Iteen stated several times that Okarilo, South la the only place in New Zealand- where the beautiful white herons fnay now he seen, with the exception, perhaps, two stray individuals. Captain J. W. Thomson, harbourmaster at Okarito, states that tinge birds are still nesting there, and that there is reason to hope they will increase in numbers. A few week* ago, Mr. Park, a friend of Captain Thomson, went to the Koto Creek, about si* miles north, of Okarito, and visited an old heivmy, where, onco, the birds gathered in hundreds. There he saw four nests, built on the tops of tall ferns. Pitch nest contained two young ones. The parents were «een flying in the locality, A solitary white heron, which took up its abode in the Okarito township some years ago, is still there, the get of all the residents. Captain Thomson states that it would go hard with any visitor who interfered with the bird, which receives almost as much reverence us was given to the sacred ih's in Egypt years ago. Destruction of the sacred ibis, by the way. was punishable by death. It is regrettable that the same moot making the punishment fit the crime is not taken in regard to those who interfere with the white heron in New Zealand. AH native birds expect the black shag are treated with marked respect by the people of Okarito, Consequently, several species at* increasing satisfactorily. . Amongst there are the bittern, the fcaka, the wcks. and the kiwi. The ciy of the kiwi may he heard occasTonaly at nights near* the

township. Captain Thomson believes that the -stoat and weasel have been the principal agents in hrinp'ne about the changes in the position of the av'fauna since he went to Okarito 35 year* ago. On one occasion, when onion the large lagoon, he saw his dog investigating * b«»h on the ground. It was the neat of a black swan, which had been robbed of the eggs, and nut of it r»h a

weasel. Fpon going half a mile further he fon"d nnother Week swan’s nest, also with the eggs mise’ntr. and with evidence that s veasel had been ’present, On a third cession he saty a pet hl-ck ‘-wan (vine on its hs'k on the cpiiniil. He slnnned 'a o’ck it on. sod found (bit a wea cn l had killed it hv cllttioor it wwe the neck. “ttt ""*ive bi'-le "• Okarite suffer f*wn ,v ~-rnrv’*. *' Ss thoce who infre-luced them here •mvlj for *’ Whose beer is the best ? Why TVsm’s Knmnrs. ssk snvhedv —Advt.