Arrangements for the complete equipping of the Aurora for another journey to the Antarctic are proceeding apace. Mr J. J. Kinsey, of Christchurch, and Mr John Mill, of Port Chalmers, have been appointed by the New Zealand Government to have charge of the refitting and victualling of the ship for the relief of the Ross Sea party.
The Aurora is to be put into the old dock at Port Chalmers at 9 o'clock this morning for survey. The survey, which is expected to occupy about two days, will be conducted by experts, with whom Captain Stenhouse and Captain Post (who will arrive from Wellington tonight) will be associated.
As soon as the extent of the necessary repairs is ascertained no doubt the work will be proceeded with without delay. The contemplated relief expedition is, of course, under the charge of Lieutenant Stenhouse.
Sir Ernest Shackleton has been unable to reach Elephant Island owing to the ice pack. Sir Ernest telegraphs from Port Stanley: "I returned here from an attempt to reach Elephant Island in the vessel which the Uruguayan Government kindly lent.
I greatly regret to report that I was unable to effect the rescue of the comrades I left there in an ice-hole. We encountered much heavier ice conditions than on the previous attempt in May in Captain Thomas's South Georgian whaler.''
"We encountered stream-ice, 60 miles northward of Elephant Island. We passed through this successfully, and reached within 20 miles of Elephant Island, but, owing to heavy, impenetrable pack-ice, interspersed by numerous icebergs, also a high north-westerly swell, it was impossible to proceed. The ice stretched in crescent form from west-north-west through south to north-east, the two horns being 60 miles from Elephant Island. This winter's ice conditions are so bad that ultimate rescue will only be possible with a wooden steam vessel or an ice-breaker.''
•The Dunedin Amenities and Town Planning Society has decided to arrange annual garden competitions, with the object of improving the appearance and attractiveness of our city.
It is anticipated that these competitions will promote a healthy rivalry amongst citizens respecting gardens, with the result that they will be better kept and more artistic.
It is to be regretted that in the past our citizens have largely overlooked the fact that well kept and artistic private gardens add enormously to the attractiveness of a city. Our public gardens are, on account of their beauty, a source of great attraction.
What has been done on this large scale will, it is hoped, stand as an example of what may and should be carried out on a small scale by each citizen who takes an interest in his property and the making of his city more attractive. It has also been decided by the society to request the City Council to authorise Mr Tannock to prepare a model garden for educational purposes.
•A New Brighton audience was humorously incredulous last Friday evening, when the Christchurch electrical engineer told them that by installing electricity they might cook their breakfast while they slept says the Christchurch Sun.
When the laugh had subsided, Mr Stark explained that this was actually done in his own home - the breakfast was put in an electrical oven over-night. An alarm clock, set to go off two hours before the hour at which breakfast was required, switched the current on to the oven, so that at the time of rising the breakfast was ready to put on the table.
- ODT, 28.6.1916.
