ANTARCTIC RESEARCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9596, 7 February 1910, Page 7

ANTARCTIC RESEARCH.

CAPTAIN SCOTT'S EXPEDITION

Good progress is being made in the preparations for Captain Scott's Aut(officially designated "British Antarctic Expedition,lolo" ), and one member of the staff will leave for Siberia before the end of thi;s year to obtain the necessary dogs and ponies, writas a London correspondent.

Captain Scotr. lias been relieved of liis appointment at tho Admiralty in order that he may devote the whole of Ills time to the work of the expedition, 'and work has already begun on tho ship, Terra Nova. SoiUB important appointments have been made to the scientific stall". Dr Wilson, chief of the staff, will also be zoologist aud artist. His task will include the general organisation aud distribution of work, and the co-re-lations of results. It is anticipated that three geologists will bo taken with the expedition. One of them is Dr Mackintosh Bell, the Director of the Survey ot New Zeahas volunteered his seri vicss, which will bo readily accepted if liis Government grants him the necessary leave. Tho second geologist, it is hoped, will be secured in Australia, through the good olliaas of Professor David, of Melbourne University. The third geologist will bo selected in England.

Mr R. Simpson, of the Indian Survey Department, will be physicist of the expedition. He is a graduate of Manchester Uuiversity, aud has been specially recommended by Professor Schuster. Two, aud possibly three, biologists will be included in Captain / Scott's personnel, aud steps are being taken to secure gentlemen haviug a special jiuowledge of marine biology.

The services of Mr C. R. Meares, the well-known traveller, who recently completed a most interesting journey on tli ? Ohiuo-Thibetau border, have been secure! He is leaving Eugla^^almost immediately for Eastern Siberia, to obtain ponies and dogs for the journey. He will collect-. his animals at Vladivostock. whence they will bs sent to Kobe, au.l transhipped for Australia aud New Zealand. Mr Meares will join the Terra Nova in New Zealand.

Tiie landing parties will probably consist of thirty men in all, twentyfive of whom will be at the large stations and live at Ihe second statiou. The position of: these stations will be alternatively east or west of the barrier, according to circumstances. Tb.3 numbers given are, of course, in addition to the staff of the ship, which will return to New Zealand after lauding Captain Scott and his companions. Au improved motor sledge of a type tried successfully last year in Norway is being constructed for the expedition, and will undergo further trials, for which purpose Captain Scott will proceed early iv the coming year with mo:cr->le;}ge to Norway. There IRrther rri.i:? ~:1- be maJe in February or M:v:'.:. vri.-.-n the snow will be in fi: ecu :::::::. Wir'i regard to equipment, ste:..« :-r c : also being taken to order =kii:; c: you 1:5 reindeer for fur ?leep:ns-b?.i:i. and the best kind of n'lmesko or fur boots, which have to be obtained from Lapland, aud also the b p ;t class of wood for sledges, etc. Details with regard to these matters will be adjusted wiien Captain Scotr visits Norway.