THE NIMROD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2462, 29 March 1909, Page 5

THE NIMROD.

LITUTENANT SHACKLETON CONGRATULATED.

THE KING’S MESSAGE.

(Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, March 29. Lieut. Shackleton has received the following cablegram from the King:— “I congratulate you and your comrade's most warmly on the splendid result accomplished by our expedition, and in having succeeded in hoisting the Union Jack, presented,to you by the Queen, within 100 miles of the South Pole and the Union Jack on the South Magnetic Pole. I gladly assent to the new range of mountains in the Par South bearing the name of Queen Alexandra. —Edward R, and I.” The International Polar Commission, comprising Messrs. Oagni, Nordenskjold, and Lecointe have cabled from Brussels “Enthusiastic congratulations to Lieutenant Shackleton." The National Polar Commission is a body formed in 1904, in Brussels by most of the Polar explorers. The reason of the formation was to standardise research, and to encourage the people’s interest in Polar matters. M. Cagni was captain of the Polar Star (the Duke of Abruzzi’s ship). He made the farthest north record before being beaten by a few miles by Peary. M. Nordenskjold is a well-known Swedish explorer on the side of the Antarctic immediately below' South America. M. Lecointe was one of the members of the Belgian Antarctic expedition, and is honorary secretary of the International Polar Commission.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE

CHRISTCHURCH, March 28. Lieutenant Shackleton and the officers and men of the Antarctic expedition attended a thanksgiving service in the Anglican Cathedral this morning, when there was a large congregation. Bishop Julius preached. In the course of his sermon, he said he had no sympathy with those who said that no adventure should be engaged in unless there was money in it; nor with those who said, that men had no right to risk their lives In' pursuit of that which, as they thought, seemed of little value to the world. Continuing, his Lordship said: “New' Zealand has done well to give her Dreadnought to the Imperial service, and, having given it, I trust everyone will have a measure of selfsacrifice in that gift, and will help to pav for it; but, my brethren, it is these men that are our Dreadnoughts. The Dreadnought that we are building dreads nought because it knows nought. These men dread nought because there is in them, handed dow r n through the long ages, gathered from their fathers, granted to them by the grace of God, courage that can endure the proof, strength for service that can carry them through infinite dangers. I can see the heart of the whole nation is lifted up because they know that besides the' ships, we have the men who can stand to our country in her need, men that can serve her and die for the love of her.” PROPOSED PUBLIC RECEPTION. CHRISTCHURCH, March 27. - The Mayor has convened a meeting of citizens for Monday afternoon to consider the question of giving a public reception to the officers and men of the Nimrod.