252 EEPORT— 1891. 



new) rewarded his dredgings. He landed on Possession 

 Island, in lat. 71° 56' S. and long. 171° 7' E., and there 

 met with "inconceivable myriads" of large penguins. The 

 Antarctic regions offered a new world to the naturalist ; but 

 negative, as well as positive, evidence was useful, and, even 

 if it were proved that the Antarctic regions contained no 

 fresh forms of animal life beyond those with which we were 

 already acquainted, the knowledge of that fact would help to 

 elucidate the problems connected with the geographical dis- 

 tribution of animals and the whereabouts of the prime origin 

 of life. Light would also be thrown upon the validity or 

 otherwise of the theory that a land-connection formerly ex- 

 isted between New Zealand and South America. 



A thorough knowledge of the physical features and meteoro- 

 logy of the Antarctic region would prove of material assist- 

 ance in enabling us to master the meteorology of Australia and 

 New Zealand and of the adjacent seas. If the Colonial 

 Government subscribed towards the cost of an Antarctic ex- 

 pedition, they would virtually be helping to make their meteoro- 

 logical observatories more efficient. The extension of our 

 present knowledge of ocean-currents, which would arise from 

 a further exploration of the South Polar region, would be a 

 gain of practical as well as scientific value, and we might ex- 

 pect important additions to our knowledge of terrestrial mag- 

 netism and the phenomena of auroras. There seemed to be a 

 striking development of volcanic action in the Antarctic lands, 

 and this would offer another interesting field of investiga- 

 tion. 



Some commercial advantages — and those not small — would 

 probably flow from an Antarctic expedition. Antarctic 

 voyagers had met with whales and seals in considerable 

 numbers ; and Eoss discovered an immense guano-bed on 

 Possession Island. Similar deposits might exist in other 

 localities ; and the rendering available to commerce of even 

 one extensive guano-bed would of itself almost recoup the cost 

 of an Antarctic expedition. 



He felt little sympathy with the projects which had been 

 mooted for a flying survey of what might be termed the outer 

 edge of the Antarctic region, as he was unable to perceive what 

 object of importance was likely to be gained by such a survey. 

 They ought to seek to penetrate into the inner recesses of the 

 Antarctic region. Moreover, an Antarctic expedition upon a 

 large scale would be more likely to gain public support in the 

 colonies; while the Imperial Government, which had already 

 refused to contribute towards the cost of a flying survey, might 

 be willing to aid in a larger expedition, which, if successful, 

 would reflect lustre upon the nation. 



The expedition should consist of two auxiliary steamers 



