Chapter C^ree 



THE FIRST STAGE 



THE work of preparing for the expedition made rapid 

 progress towards completion, and as the end of J uly 

 approached, the stores and equipment were stowed away 

 in the holds of the Nimrod in readiness for the voyage 

 to New Zealand. The final departure for the south 

 was to be made from Lyttelton, a well-equipped port 

 at which I felt sure, from the experience of the three 

 vessels of the Discovery expedition, that I should receive 

 every assistance that lay in the power of the authorities. 

 Early in July we exhibited in a room in Regent Street 

 samples of our stores and equipment, and some thousands 

 of people paid us a visit. The days were all too short, 

 for scores of details demanded attention and small 

 difficulties of all sorts had to be overcome, but there 

 were no delays, and on July 30, 1907, the Nimrod was 

 able to sail from the East India Docks for Torquay, 

 the first stage of the journey of sixteen thousand miles 

 to New Zealand. Most of the members of the shore staff, 

 including myself, intended to make this journey by 

 steamer, but I left the docks with the Nimrod, intending 

 to travel as far as Torquay. 



We anchored for the first night at Greenhithe, and 

 on the morning of the 31st continued on our way to 

 Torquay, landing Mr. Reid at Tilbury in order that 

 he might return to London for letters. When he reached 

 London that afternoon, he found at the office a telegram 

 from the King's equerry, commanding the Nimrod to 

 visit Cowes in order to enable their Majesties the King 



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