384 Transactions . — Miscellaneous. 



Art. XL VI. — Problems of Arctic Exploration hearing upon 

 Recent Attempts to reach the North Pole. 



By H. Hill, B.A., F.G.S. 



[Read before the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute.'] 



It would be useless to enumerate the expeditions that have 

 set out to learn something of the land or lands which are 

 within the bounds of the arctic circle, but more especially as 

 to the spot which is geographically distinguished by the name 

 of the north pole. The information which has been gathered 

 as to the climate, currents, animal and vegetable life are of 

 great value and interest to science, but these are even of less 

 importance than the information that has been collected with 

 respect to the past plant-life that must have existed in those 

 inhospitable regions. I do not know whether anything of 

 special value is to be gained by reaching the spot to which so 

 many eyes have been turned for a long time past, but until 

 success has been attained we may expect the devotees of 

 science — if the travellers to such a place may be so termed — 

 to strive by every means to reach the goal of their ambition. 

 Many lives have already been sacrificed, but the ardour is still 

 strong among the nations, and not long ago a novel expedition 

 started from Spitzbergeu in the hope of reaching the pole in a 

 balloon. 



The expedition is made up of three Swedes, named Andree,. 

 Eckholm, and Strendberg, all ardent scientists and specialists. 

 Andree is the leader of the expedition, and he hopes to reach 

 the pole in a balloon which has been specially constructed under 

 his immediate supervision. The balloon was made in Paris, 

 and is composed of three thicknesses of silk firmly glued 

 together, the outside being covered with no less than five 

 coatings of varnish. The balloon is enclosed in special 

 netting, and from the suspension- ring there hangs a curiously 

 constructed basket resembling a gondola. Here the adven- 

 turers are to live, and many curious arrangements and con- 

 trivances have been provided for the convenience of the 

 travellers, and for the storage of provisions, instruments, and 

 such other things as are considered needful for the require- 

 ments of the expedition. The balloon itself is 75 ft. from 

 summit to mouth, and to the bottom of the basket 97 ft. 

 The basket has a depth of about 5 ft., is circular in shape, and 

 has a cover or lid made of wicker-work. The basket is pro- 

 vided with a single bedstead, the arrangement being such that 

 one will sleep whilst the others are on duty. A special 



