RETURN OF THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



127 



as the expedition just made would be a 

 base for future operations. It was to 

 be hoped that Mr. Borchgreevink him- 

 self would lead another party with the 

 same brave spirit that had characterisotl 

 the recent exploration. 



The Chief Secretary (Hon. G. T. Col- 

 lins) endorsed what Mr. Bird had said. 

 He would briefly extend to the leader 

 and members of the expedition the 

 heartiest congratulations and welcome 

 that they could give. The Government 

 took an interest in the expedition, and 

 on behalf of the northern part of the 

 Island, as well as for the south, he wel- 

 com.ed the explorers back. (Applause.) 



The Hon. Adye Douglas, as President 

 of the Legislative Council, also tendered 

 a welcome to the captain and members 

 of the expedition. The party were to 

 be congratulated on the success of th?ir 

 mission. Such a large and representa 

 tive meeting should be gratifying to x\Ir. 

 Borchgreevink, whom he hoped would 

 soon return to Tasmania, and give them 

 more information than had yet been im- 

 parted. (Applause. 1) 



The Hon. Nicholas Brown, on Ibeha'f 

 of the Assemblv, also delivered a con- 

 gratulatory address. The results of th« 

 voyage were not yet known, but all were 

 aware that a great deal of bravery had 

 been shown by members of the expedi- 

 tion, which entitled them to the warmest 

 of welcomes. Tasmania was an outpost 

 of Great Britain, and was also an outpost 

 in the cause of science. The Royal So- 

 ciety of Tasmania had done much in fche 

 way of fostering and extending science. 

 Although the benefits of the recent ex- 

 ploration seemed remote, they would i" 

 the future have an important bearing ca 

 the world generally. 



Alderman Hiddlestone (in the absence 

 of the Mayor) read an address of wel- 

 come from the City Council. After con- 

 gratulations, the address noted that the 

 citizens had eagerly awaited the return 

 of the explorers, and now still more eag- 

 erly awaited the report of their expedi- 

 tion : and, finally, expressed regret at 

 the death of Mr. H'ansen. Alderman 

 Hiddlestone added several hearty wov Is 

 of congratulation and welcome on h s 

 own account. 



Addresses of welcome were also pre- 

 sented by the following bodies : — The 

 Marine Board of Hobart {'^j Captain 

 T. M. Fisher) ; Australian Natives' 

 Association (by Mr. A. J. Nettlefold). 



The Chairman explained that Colonel 

 Legge wrote congratulating Mr. Borch- 

 grevink and tJae other members of the 

 expedition on the success that had at- 

 tended their undertaking. 



Mr. Borchgrevink, avIio was received 

 with long-sustained applause, said: — 

 Lady Gormanston, Sir John Dodds, 

 ladies and gentlemen, — I am rather in 

 an unfortunate position to-night in one 

 way — wishing to say much and still ob- 

 liged to say little. I shall not make an 

 exception from a rule I always follow 

 — multum in parvo ; I like to say much 

 in little, and I hate doing the reverse. 

 However, I feel that the good-bye we 

 of the Southern Cross got from Hobart, 

 and the reception we have got here to- 

 night, justify me in opeuing-out my 

 heart so much that I find some revela- 

 tions I must make. ("Hear, hear," 

 and applause). Well, we have been suc- 

 cessful. We have carried-out the aim 

 of the expedition. (Loud applause.) 

 Thanks, that is, to all on board, from 

 my scientific staff to the humblest sailor. 

 (Applause.) Everyone has been a cog in 

 that wheel which is necessary to carry 

 human knowledge onwards. Standing 

 here to-night speaking not alone on 

 behalf of myself, but also on behalf of 

 those who risked their lives, and who 

 at aU times were ready without mur- 

 mur to endure all for the purposes for 

 which they had joined the expedition — 

 I feel that we are a small band and that 

 Providence has kept a protecting hand 

 over us, and helped us in our efforts ; 

 and I feel also that this small band will 

 only be the poineers of a roll of illustri- 

 ous Britons who we hope will benefit by 

 our experience. (Applause.) Not 



least, I believe, will Tasmania benefit 

 by giving a helping hand in future Ant- 

 arctic research; for I believe that the 

 opening up of Antarctic exploration in 

 the year 1900 must in time to come be 

 a bright intellectual landmark in the 

 history of the culture of the nations ol 

 the Southern Hemisphere. (Applause.' 

 When we left, the Bishop was kind 

 enough to inform me that he did not ex- 

 pect impossibilities from us ; I was ver\ 

 glad to hear it, and I hope he wiW main- 

 tain that tind feeling now. (Laughtei 

 and applause.) Especially as touchinc 

 upon the position of the Magnetn 

 Pole He asked whether Sir Jas. Clart 

 Ross's calculations of the position ol 

 the South Magnetic Pole were 



