The Swedish Government asked the British Government to participate officially, and although this has been declined yet the support and co-operation of British scientific circles are expected.
The expedition will start in a Norwegian whaler in the summer of 1915, and will spend five years on Graham Land, exploring the country round about.
As there is no proper harbour in Graham Land, a station will be established on the east coast of Antarctic Sound, and will be provided with wooden houses, and a complete outfit for five years.
Sledges with dog teams and a 40-ton motor boat will be used for exploring the mainland and the coast as far as the 70th degree of latitude, and communicating with Norwegian whalers.
The expedition will consist of 11 persons in all, of whom six, besides the leader and physician of the expedition, will be specially qualified men of science.
Of these, two will be British.
All the collections brought home will be equally divided between Sweden and Great Britain.
The sum required for the outfit of the expedition, 75,000 kroner (about £4160), has been already provided by two anonymous donors.
In addition, 54,000 kroner for five years will be needed.
Half of this will be found by the Swedish Government, the other half will be provided by private subscription, and the British Museum, the Royal Society, and the Royal Geographical Society will, it is thought, be contributors.
Professor Nordenskjold spoke on the scientific results expected from the expedition in the advance of the knowledge of the geography, meteorology, geology, palaeontology, and biology of the regions explored.
The mountain range and its probable connection with the mountain system of South America, the fossil formations, glacial process, and atmospheric variations would be specially investigated.
• Mr George Aitchison, owner of the well-known Holstein herd at Kaitangata, has received from the Agricultural Department the final results of the test which his famous cow Daisy has undergone for the past 12 months (says the Clutha Leader).
The yield is a remarkable one, considering that towards the latter part of the year the cow was seriously ill for over a week, and, in fact, Mr Aitchison was afraid he would lose her.
Even during this period she was milked, and she gave from 12lb to 17lb of milk daily.
Her record for the year is 659.30lb butter fat, which is equivalent to approximately 830lb of butter.
Mr J. C. N. Grigg, of Longbeach, managed to beat this record with his prize Holstein cow by a very small trifle - namely, 659.31lb.
• Wildest excitement is stated to have prevailed at a wedding at Bluff a week or so ago, when the minister mixed things somewhat.
He filled up the certificate by marrying the bride to the best man, and putting the bridegroom down as a witness.
When the mistake was discovered the feelings of the bridegroom can be imagined. Was he married, or had the best man won the fair maid?
Fortunately, the mistake was rectified before the clergyman left by the Melbourne boat, or things might have become serious. - ODT, 6.5.1914.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
