president’s address. 
437 
Sledge-parties readied lat. 80° 1 7 min. South, the furthest point 
ever attained. Ranges of high mountains were seen to continue 
through Victoria Land. Foothills resembling the Admiralty 
range were observed at 160°. Lowest temperature 62° below 
zero ! 
L)r. J. W. Gregory, F.R.S. (‘ Nature,’ April 25th, 1901), following 
Bernaechi’s Topography of South Victoria Land (R. G. Soc., 
March 18th, 1901) suggested various problems for the “ Discovery” 
to work out. 
(a.) Whether the Antarctic Lands to the South of Australia, 
Victoria Land, Wilkes’ Land, Addlie Land, Geikie Land, Newnes 
Land, Termination Land, are all part of one great continent, or 
mombers of an Antarctic Archipelago. 
The earlier voyagers all maintained the existence of an Antarctic 
Continent, and Suess’ theory supports this view. 
Ritter suggests that the Volcanic chain forming the Eastern face 
of Victoria Land is the continuation of the New Zealand volcanic 
line, and that the coast of Wilkes’ Land is a southern extension of 
the Australian plateau. This plateau is bounded to the north and 
east by the great fold passing through New Guinea, New Caledonia, 
and New Zealand. 
The rocks dredged by the “Challenger” and the “Valdivia” 
are like those of Southern Australia; and those of Victoria Land 
examined by Teall, are like the rocks of New Zealand. Geologically 
then the Antarctic is an Archaean land with rocks similar to those 
of Australia; and its eastern side is volcanic. 
Indirect evidence favours a land connection with a chain of peaks 
stretching from Victoria Land and the vicinity of Mounts Erebus 
and Terror to Graham’s Land. 
If this great line can be proved, the volcanic chain encircling the 
Pacific Ocean will be rendered complete, joining up the Antarctic 
land with New Zealand and Australia on the one hand, and 
Graham’s Land to South America on the other. We do not expect 
a land fauna on the Antarctic, but Secondary and Tertiary fossils 
may be discovered, and furnish still further evidence of an old land 
connection. 
