ANTARCTIC DISCOVERIES

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17984, 1 April 1930, Page 6

ANTARCTIC DISCOVERIES

“New lands must be discovered,” says Hayes, “before the geologist, glaciologist, meteorologist, magnelician and other .scientists are able to pursue their investigations.” Admiral Byrd has blazed the way inio new territory m the Antarctic with his airplane. That he acted upon suggestions made by llayes and Sir Douglas Mawson may he supposed, hut his work was well and soundly done. He has not only mapped a good deal of coast- line north-east of the Bay of Whales and a part of it west of the hay, but in the interior lie has discovered the Rockefeller Alountaius, honoured Scott by naming; new territory after him, added Marie Byrd Land to the map, found a range east of Mount Nansen, proved that Amundsen took Carmine Land for granted when it did not exist, and was able to report from a high altitude that King liaakon Yli. Plateau was a monotonous level. These observations and discoveries constitute a great achievement in themselves. The lesson of what lie has done is that the whole of Antarctica, whether it he largely continental or made up of great and small islands, can be put together like parts of a puzzle by surveys from the air based on coastal and strategical positions. He has roused the whole scientific world to the opportunity of clearing up all the mysteries of the South Polar region and charting it from one end to the other. The .'American’s accomplishment (says the New York Times) is an inspiration and a challenge, but he has not been alone in the field. On other sides of Antarctica Wilkins, Riiser-Larsen and 'Mawson with smaller ■ expeditions have not been idle. The first has surveyed no inconsiderable part of Ilearst Land and charted the coast from Graham Land to Charcot Land, discovering Inat the latter is also an island. Riiser-Larsen on the Norvegia, and using planes too, discovered new land between Coates and Enderby (on the other side of the continent from Little America) in December, and on February 17 he found other territory north-cast of Weddell Sea, which was not on the map. His success marks the Weddell Sea shore as a promising base for a flight to the South Pole.' Sir Douglas Mawson lias discovered new land east of Kemp Land to which he has given the name of Alacßobcrtson, but, aside from reporting 73 peaks, the

highest 7000 feet, he has given no other account of it. On the whole, the season of 1929-30 has 'been rich in geographical discoveries and prophetic of future explorations.