Part 75 (1/2)

Australia, 1914:

Collected by Professor Ma.s.son (approximately), L80; G. J. R. Murray (Adelaide), L100; Sir Samuel Way, L50..... 230

Collected in London, 1914.................... 10

Total moneys donated L45,885

a.s.sets realized and added to the fund:

Sale of photos and newspaper articles, L490; sale of s.h.i.+p and materials, L3699; lectures, films, &c., L726..... 4,915

Bills Owing ...... 5,932 5,932

a.s.sets to be realized: L

In hand.................. 560 Owing .................. 340 Antic.i.p.ated sale of gear......... 570 ---- 1,470

Debit balance............. 4,462 Total cost ** of Expedition........... 56,732

There is therefore a deficit of L4462 to be made up by the royalty on the sale of the book, lectures, donations, &c., and the cost of the publication of the scientific results, which will be approximately L8000, has yet to be defrayed.

** An estimate of the cost of the expedition should also take account of donations in kind, which, as can be gathered, were numerous.

Facilities offered by harbour boards and valuable a.s.sistance extended in the matter of docking and repairing the 'Aurora', particularly in the case of the State of Victoria, and to a less extent in New South Wales.

Then there were valuable contributions of coal, particularly by Mr.

J. Brown of Newcastle (N.S.W.), Mr. H. D. Murphy (Melbourne), and the Lithgow Collieries Company.

APPENDIX VII

Equipment

Clothing

With regard to the clothing, the main bulk was of woollen material as supplied by Jaeger of London. This firm is unexcelled in the production of camel's-hair garments and has supplied most polar expeditions of recent years with underclothing, gloves, caps, and the like. From the same firm we also secured heavy ski-boots, finnesko-crampons, and the blankets which were used at Winter Quarters at both Antarctic Bases. Some of the Jaeger woollens were damaged by sea water on the voyage from London to Australia and were replaced by Eagley goods; an Australian brand, which proved very satisfactory.

The s.h.i.+p's Party were outfitted with Kaipoi woollens (New Zealand).

Outer garments were made up to our design from Jaeger fleece by tailors in Hobart. The suit consisted of a single garment, to be worn with combination underclothing, and was calculated to meet the requirements of a severe climate.

An over-suit of wind-proof material, which may be worn when required, is a necessary adjunct to woollen clothing. Such a suit should have the additional properties of being light, strong, not readily absorbing moisture, and not affected by the cold. Burberry gabardine was found to possess all these properties, and two complete suits were made up for each man. One suit consisted of three pieces, whilst the other was made of two; the blouse-jacket and helmet of the latter being combined.

Furs, which were obtained from Norway, were restricted to sleeping bags, finnesko or fur-boots, and wolfskin mitts (Lapland).

The outfit of clothing for the party at Macquarie Island and on the s.h.i.+p, respectively, differed from that used in the Antarctic. Warmer temperatures and wet conditions had to be taken into account, and so rubber boots, oilskins, and rubberized materials were provided as outer coverings.

Food

The food-stuffs were selected with at least as much consideration as was given to any of the other requisites. The successful work of an expedition depends on the health of the men who form its members, and good and suitable food reduces to a minimum the danger of scurvy; a scourge which has marred many polar enterprises. Thus our provisioning was arranged with care and as a result of my previous experience in the Antarctic with Sir Ernest Shackleton's Expedition.

A summary which may be of possible use to future expeditions is appended below: