MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 1 85 



Geographical Society of Australasia and other scientific societies in the 

 Australian Colonies, with a view of getting the stipulated £5,000. 



" Notwithstanding however, that considerable efforts have been 

 made to secure this comparatively small sum, the amount subscribed up 

 to date is less than £1,000, and it is more than probable that the 

 Swedish-Australian Antarctic Expedition, which it was proposed to 

 depart from Europe in a steamer specially fitted up for such purpose in 

 July next, so as to start from Melbourne in the following September, 

 and from Macquarie Island, the nearest depot to polar land, in October 

 — will for this season at least have to be given up, since only the four 

 months of an Antarctic summer, viz., October-February, could be made 

 use of for Antarctic Exploration. 



" The subject of Antarctic Exploration was Jalso discussed by the 

 Geographical Section at the Christchurch meeting of the Association for 

 the Advancement of Science in January last, when a paper by Mr. G. 

 S. Griffiths, F.R.G.S., President of the Section, on Australian and 

 Antarctic Exploration was read and discussed. Baron Ferd. von 

 Midler, as President of the Antarctic Exploration Committee of 

 "Victoria pointed out the impossibility ot obtaiuing at the present 

 time any large grant from either the Imperial or Colonial Governments 

 and therefore advocated an expedition on lines of less magnitude and 

 extending in the first place to only three or four months. 



" Admiral Ommanne} 7 in a letter to the Times strongly deprecates 

 any idea of landing a party to pass the winter in the Antaictic regions 

 The exploration of these regions is acknowledged to be of the highest 

 scientific interest and of considerable commercial value, especially to 

 Australasia. The principal objects of such an expedition would be : — 



1. Further extension of geological knowledge in South-polar regions. 



2. Scientific research including encpiiry into the problems of physical 

 geography, natural histoiy, and meteorology. 3. Investigation of the 

 fishery industry — chiefly whale and seal. 



" With regard to Baron Dickson's offer I append here an extract 

 reprinted from an article in the London Times of February 13th last: — 

 ' Baron Oscar Dickson, of Gothenburg, Sweden, who is in London at 

 present, naturally expresses some surprise at the conduct of the Austra- 

 lasian Geographical Society, which originally approached him with 

 reference to the undertaking. The only condition which he required 

 was that Australia should contribute £5,000, and he would do all else 

 that was necessary. He estimates that for a suitable expedition, even 

 on a comparatively small scale, something like £15,000 would be 

 wanted. Two of the powerful Norwegian sealing vessels, specially 

 constructed for ice navigation could be purchased for £7,000. A com- 

 plete equipment of scientific instruments would probably cost £1,000 ; 

 but Baron Dickson believes that such an equipment would be willingly 

 supplied by the Swedish Government. At least one of the ships would 

 have to be furnished with provisions and other supplies for two years, 

 in case of accident : while the equipment of the second ship, the pay- 

 ment of crews, and other expenses would not leave a large balance out 

 of the remaining £8,000. Baron Dickson would contribute £5,000, 

 and would take upon himself the responsibility of obtaining the 

 remainder. The bulk of it, he believes, he could obtain in Sweden and 



