XXll 



found a gold nugget there they would 

 make a not;e of it. (Laughter.) He was 

 glad to see so inueh enthusiasm displayed 

 in this Antarctic exploration, and hoped 

 the expedition would bring ))ack such 

 facts, and information as would justify a 

 larger and a more expensive expedition in 

 the future. (Applause.) He could not on 

 this occasion promise more than that he 

 and those associated with him would do 

 their best. (Loud applause.) However 

 difficult the work might be, if they 

 could succeed in adding something 

 to the sum of human knowledge of 

 those Antarctic regions they would feel 

 more than repaid for their trouble. (Ap- 

 plause.) They had the honour of flying a 

 flag presented to them by H.R.H. the 

 Duke of York, and as they would look 

 upon it, they would feel that England and 

 the great British nation expected ever}' 

 man to do his duty. (Loud applause.) 

 Once more he returned his sincere thanks 

 for such a splendid reception in Hobart — 

 the beautiful pearl of cities in the Southern 

 Hemisphere. ("Waiun applause.) He hoped 

 Hobart would be their first port of call 

 on their return in 1900. (Loud applause.) 

 He, ot course, felt highly delighted, thanks 

 to Sir George Xewnes, that he had 

 been able to carry out the South Antarctic 

 exploration scheme before the close of the 

 present century, and because when he had 

 the honour of laying his modest scheme 

 before the British Association, and before 

 the International Geographical Congress m 

 the Imperial Institute in 1895, a reso- 

 lution was unanimously carried that 

 the further exploration of the southern 

 Antarctic Continent was the greatest 

 geographical and scientific work of the 

 centur}^ that remained to be under- 

 taken. He regretted that there was not a 

 Briton bred and born in command of the 

 expedition, but he assured the audience 

 that his heart was truly British. ( Loud ap- 

 plause.) He was very' proud to lead this 

 British expedition, and he thanked them 

 all for their kind reception. (Prolonged 

 applause.) 



Mr. Louis Bernacchi, who was most 

 warmly applauded upon rising to speak, 

 responded for the members of the scientific 

 staff. He was sure the remembrance of 

 the evening would remain indelibly im- 



printed on the memories of all of them. 

 Also of the many kindnesses received and 

 the charming ladies of Hobart. It would 

 be something to look back upon during 

 the long winter nights in that ghostly 

 frozen world to which they were bound — 

 Antarctica. In regard to the scientific work 

 of the expedition, it would be premature 

 to yet say much, but they had the very 

 best instrumentson board — instrumentsfor 

 meteorological work for determining the 

 force of gravity at the South Pole, t,he 

 intensity of atmospheric electricity, and 

 instruments for taking an adequate photo- 

 graphic survey of the coast of Antarctica. 

 Many discoveries of great interest to man- 

 kind, and many and splendid victories in 

 the cause of science, were to ])e made in 

 those polar regions and seas. Peace had 

 its conquests and science its glories, and 

 no brighter chaplet had been won than 

 in the work of scientific i^esearch and 

 geographical disco vei-y. (Applause.) In 

 conclusion, he ventured to believe that the 

 unity and spirit of good fellowship exist- 

 ing on board the Southern Cross, and the 

 absolute confidence they all had in the 

 leader, would conduce to successful results. 

 (Loud applause.) 



Mr. Haywood played " Auld lang syne " 

 on the organ, and a vote of thanks havinar 

 been passed to His Excellency, on the pro- 

 position of the Mayor, the proceedings 

 terminated. 



Refreshments were served in the ante- 

 room and committee-room bj^ Mr. C. D. 

 Haywood. 



In the library of the Royal Society of 

 Tasmania there are the original minutes cf 

 the society of the year ISil. The following 

 record is to be seen :—" Wednesday, April 

 7. 18il. Present :— Sir .John Franklin : 

 Messrs. Bedford, Kay, Lillie, Dr. Turnbull, 

 Captain Ross, R.N., Captain Crozier, R.N. 

 [N.B.— This day arrived Her Majesty's 

 ships Erebus and Terror, Captains Ross 

 and Crozier having ascertained the true 

 position of the South Magnetic Pole.] 

 (Signed) F. H, Henslowe, hon. sec= During 

 that year Captains Ross and Crozier were 

 elected members of the society, as also 

 Hon. Sir .James AgncAV, who still takes the 

 keenest interest in the Royal Society of 

 Tasmania. 



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