For the present it seems that the North Pole must yield pre-eminence to the South. During the past few days we have heard much of Andtée's having reached Klondyke, but as the report is improbable and lacks confirmation, it has been generally dismissed, and we shall, I fear, hear no more of the intrepid balloonist. In the mean time no less than five expeditions are being planned to the Antarctic regions, some which at any rate, it is hoped may be carried out. For the past two years the Admiralty have been approached by various scientific societies, who have urged the desirability of sending out an expedition to the South Pole, but only quite lately a definite answer has been received it is to the effect that the Home government have communicated with Australia and an answer is expected in a fow weeks' time. It is thought this will be in favour of an expedition, unless war should be declared. One will be arranged for by Sir Geo. Nownes, over which ho is spending something like £15,000. It will leave under the command of Borchgrevink in July next. Two German expeditions, one under government, and one uvate, are in course of preparation, and Nansen has expressed his desire to join in a Norwegian one should it be arranged which is thought probable. If all five, or even less, take place, the value of them, especially to dwellers in the Southern Hemisphere, must be incalculable. At present we know almost nothing of the region of the South Pole; but it is believed that there is Ind there—another continent—but this is the largest unexplored area on the face of the globe, which is rather a reproach to civilisation, especially as scientists believe that its exploration presents far fewer difficulties than the North.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.