XXI 



the best modern appliances. The Royal 

 Society of Tasmania does not expect im- 

 possibilities from the present expedition : 

 but recognising the pluck and determina- 

 tion of the leader and of his staff, and of 

 captain and his crew believe a fresh step 

 will be taken. We are proud that they 

 start from Hobart. We shall follow them 

 with the keenest interest, and promise 

 them a royal welcome upon their return. 

 In the name of the Royal Society of Tas- 

 mania we wish them God speed in their 

 expedition. (Loud applause.) 



Hon. N. J. Brown (Speaker of the House 

 of Assembly) also spoke on behalf of the 

 Royal Society, hoping the expedition 

 would be a success, and tluit Hobart would 

 be able to welcome it back with stores of 

 knowledge, which would be beneficial to 

 mankind scientifically and commercially. 

 He thought it was a great mistake for 

 anyone to think that the expedition would 

 be of no commercial value. It would be of 

 commercial value, and in whatever form 

 that would be Tasmania would share. (Ap- 

 plause.) They ought not to fail to express 

 their admiration of the liberality of Sir 

 George Newnes in fitting out such an ex- 

 pedition. (Applause.) 



Captain Evans, the Acting Master 

 Warden of the Marine Board, read the 

 following address to Mr. Borchgrevink 

 and his party : — 



Gentleme.v, — We. the members of the 

 Marine Board of Hobart, have much pleasure 

 m extending to you a very hearty welcome to 

 the port of Hobart. We are pleas^ed to see you 

 enjoying such good liealth after your voyage 

 from England, and tru*t that you may be 

 equally favoured ii that respect throughout 

 the lonir months iri the far south. During your 

 stay in port we hope j'ou may have an enjoy- 

 able time, and thar your visit may have a place 

 amongst your most pleasant niemoiies after 

 leaving these shores. If we can afford you any 

 assistance whilst you are with us we shall only 

 be too glad lo render it, and the officers of the 

 Board will at all times be pleased to give you 

 any information or help within their power. 

 We sincerely tru.st that the results of your 

 expedition may be satisfactory, adding much 

 to th ; wor d's knowledge of the Antarctic 

 regions, hitherto practically unexplored, and 

 that we may see you again in good health and 

 spirits after your work is comp'eied.— We are, 

 gentlemen, yours very sincerely, E. T. Miles, 

 Master Warden ; Wardens J. W. Evans. II. R. 

 Rex, Robt. Snowden, Hy. Chesterman, Thos. 

 Moore Fisher, W. J. Watchorn, Ed. Burgess, 

 Chas. Jorden. 



Continuing, Captain Evans said he had 

 to apologise for the absence of the Master 

 Warden (Captain Miles, M.H.A.,) who 

 would have been delighted to have 

 been present if he could. The Marine 

 Board of Hobart congratulated Mr. 

 Borchgrevink upon having the command 

 of such an important expedition, and 

 upon having such a fine ship. From truck 

 to keelson she was a perfect vessel. (Ap- 

 plause.) 



Hon. C. H. Grant, M.L.C., President of 

 the Chamber of Commerce, read the follow- 

 ing address : — 



Dear Sir,— On behalf of the members of the 

 Chanijer of Commerce and the mercantile 

 community of Hobart, I desire to join in the 

 congratulations that you have already re- 

 ceived upon your and your party's safe arrival 

 at this port, en 7'oute to your voyage of explora- 

 tion within the Antarctic circle. In yoii as 

 leader the expedition has the great advantage 

 of your previou ly gained experience of the 

 southern legions, and your well known skill, 

 intrepidity, and resources under the very trying 

 difflculties to be encountered will, doubtless, 

 ensure a result that will be in the highest de- 

 gree beneficial to the scientific, commercial, 

 ^-nd general interests of the whole community. 

 I am able to assure you that the public of Tas- 

 mania are intensely interested in the noble ob- 

 ject of your mission, and sincerely hope that 

 yourself and staff will all maintain good health, 

 and that your high aspirations will be cro A-ned 

 with complete succe-s. We mo-^t heartily wish 

 you and your party bon i oyage. —Your^, etc., 

 C. H. Grant, Pre>-ident. 



Mr. Haywood then played the Norwegian 

 National Anthem on the organ. 



Mr. Borchgrevink, in rising to reply, 

 received a tremendous ovation. He said 

 he found himself wanting in words to 

 ade(iuately express his feelings of grati- 

 tude for the cordial reception that had 

 been given himself and party, and for 

 the kind and generous words expressed 

 towards them. The present, when they 

 were setting out on the expedition, was 

 the wrong time bo boast about it, 

 so he would not say much. He felt only 

 too keenly the weight of the task and re- 

 sponsibility that devolved upon his young 

 shoulders, and especially being the first to 

 take up the work begun by that illustrious 

 Briton, Sir James C. Ross. It seemed re- 

 markable that now, near the close of the 

 19th century, comparatively little had been 

 done to explore the vast continent which 

 it was believed lay at the Southern Pole, 

 and which was not further south of the 

 Equator than the northern part of Norway 

 lay north of the Equator. From what had 

 already been learned they supposed that 

 there was a South Antarctic Continent 

 because of the appearance of the rocks 

 already collected down there, and 

 secondly because of the altitudes. Theory 

 told them that there was a continent 

 in the South Antarctic Sea, and not merely 

 an accumulation of islands and water. 

 They knew that there must be certain 

 areas of land in those regions to make up 

 the equilibrium of the globe. The deep 

 soundings taken down there pointed to 

 the same conclusion. It was not surpris- 

 ing to find that Dr. Nansen found deep 

 water flowing out in the North on the 

 very same principle. The reasons for the 

 expedition he would rather not go into, 

 preferring to let the results justify 

 them. Suffice it to say that it was a 

 scientific expedition of discover3\ If they 



