238 KEPORT— 1891. 



while I dwell somewhat more fully upon a very important 

 topic — that of Antarctic Exploration. 



It is now about four years since Baron von Mueller, in his 

 annual address to the Geographical Society, pointed to the 

 South Polar regions as a neglected field for research. Shortly 

 afterwards I followed up this suggestion with an address upon 

 the same subject ; and in June, 1886, an x\ntarctic Exploration 

 Committee was formed in Melbourne. Through the exertions 

 of this body, information bearing upon the subject has been 

 accumulated. Whalers have been urged to try these seas. 

 The public mind has been gradually educated, and at last 

 its ear has been in some measure secured. These efforts in 

 Australia have aroused attention in Europe and America, and 

 the labour of four years promises to yield fruit at last. For 

 not only has a British shipowner opened negotiations with the 

 Tasmanian Government for the lease of Macquarie Island as a 

 whaling-station and base of operations in the South Polar seas, 

 but we have received from Baron Nordenskiold, the great polar 

 traveller, an offer to explore the Antarctic. 



If Australasia will contribute £5,000, Baron Oscar Dickson 

 will find all the rest of the funds required, and the expedition 

 will be despatched from Stockholm shortly under the supreme 

 command of Nordenskiold. On getting this noble offer, we in 

 Melbourne started at once to raise the sum asked of us ; and, 

 while engaged upon the task, we have heard by telegram from 

 London that Sir Thomas Elder has, for the second time within 

 a few months, shown his enlightened liberality towards science 

 by offering to sul^scribe the entire £5,000 himself, on certain 

 proper and well-coiisidered conditions. We therefore are justi- 

 fied in believing that this year will see this great expedition 

 starting from the shores of Australia to trace the ice-skirted 

 borders of the mysterious continent that lies abandoned to 

 frost and ice about one week's steaming from our wharves ; 

 and I have thought this occasion to be a suitable one for me 

 to remind you of some of the objects that are to be gained by 

 disturbing its solitudes. 



My experience during the four years which have elapsed 

 since this project was first mooted in Melbourne is that any 

 reference to the subject is sure to be met with the query, Cul 

 bono ? What good can it do ? What benefit can come from 

 it ? What is the object to be served by such an expedition ? 



In setting myself to the task of answering these questions, 

 let me observe that it would indeed be strange if an unex- 

 plored region, eight million square miles in area — twice the 

 size of Europe — and grouped around the axis of rotation and 

 the magnetic pole, could fail to yield to investigators some 

 novel and valuable information. But when we notice that the 

 circle is engirdled without by peculiar physical conditions, 



