EETURN Of THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 121 



science terrestrial magnetism is of the very highest interest, 

 with its bearing on questions of pure physics on the one 

 hand, and on the structure and history of our planet on the 

 other. For our further understanding of this subject, obser- 

 vations, extended both in time and place, in southern regions 

 are urgently needed. 



The i^urpose of my remarks has been to draw your atten- 

 tion to the many and diverse questi(ms whose sohitions lie 

 hidden in these southernmost parts of the earth — questions for 

 the most part, though not vsrholly, of abstract interest— and 

 to remind you of the prizes of knowledge which await the 

 attack of investigators such as those for whose welcome we 

 are met to-night. And we do welcome tbem most heartily, 

 not only for themselves and for what they have achieved, but 

 because their labours rire representative of the intere.st in 

 Antarctic research which, after many years, is now ai^aiu 

 awakening, and which brings promise of more and more of 

 such achievement in the years to come. This is an ini"erest 

 we share with all the civilised nations of the earth, an 

 interest deepened by the thought that we are confronted 

 with problems which hereafter will engage the attention "of 

 the loftiest minds when you and I, like streaks of morning 

 oloud, shall have melted into the infinite azui-e of the past." 



The Bishop of Tasmania said — 



Mr. Chairman, and Ladies and Gentlemen,— Everyone Avill 

 understand with what warmth and cordiality the'Eojal Society 

 of Tasmania welcomes back the membeis of the Antarctic 

 Expedition. They have indeed established a record. No ex- 

 pedition, with the exception of that of Ross, can be even com- 

 pared with it for results, and it may well be that it may have 

 contributed more than all previous expeditions put together 

 in scientific I'esults. Even the veriest tyro could not have 

 lived for twelve months on the Antarctic continent without 

 obtaining deeply interesting results, and we may be confident 

 that Mr. Borchgrevink ;ind his staff spent every available 

 moment in observations and scientific research. We all of us 

 remember the eagerness with which Stanley's account of his 

 journey across Atrica was awaited. I think I may assure the 

 leader of this expedition that his story of the first sojourn on 

 a still more unknown continent will be looked for with still 

 greater eagerness. 



And now, Mr. Chairman, perhaps it will not be out of 

 place if I put before this audience, first, a very brief summary 

 of what has up to the present been accomplished in Antarctic 

 regions, and next, some of the points on which we hope for 

 light. It may be that a pathetic appeal to Mr. Borchgrevink, 



