ere anxious and trying, but the memory
of them is pleasantly relieved by the generosity and assistance which
were meted out on every hand. Sir George Reid, High Commissioner for
the Australian Commonwealth, I shall always remember as an ever-present
friend. The preparations for the scientific programme received a strong
impetus from well-known Antarctic explorers, notably Dr. W. S. Bruce,
Dr. Jean Charcot, Captain Adrian de Gerlache, and the late Sir John
Murray and Mr. J. Y. Buchanan of the Challenger Expedition. In the
dispositions made for oceanographical work I was indebted for liberal
support to H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco.

In July 1911 I was once more in Australia, a large proportion of my time
being occupied with finance, the purchase and concentration of stores
and equipment and the appointment of the staff. In this work I was aided
by Professors Masson and David and by Miss Ethel Bage, who throughout
this busy period acted in an honorary capacity as secretary in
Melbourne.

Time was drawing on and the funds of the Expedition were wholly
inadequate to the needs of the moment, until Mr. T. H. Smeaton, M.P.,
introduced a deputation to the Hon. John Verran, Premier of South
Australia. The deputation, organized to approach the State Government
for a grant of L5000, was led by the Right Hon. Sir Samuel Way,
Bart., Chief Justice of South Australia and Chancellor of the Adelaide
University, and supported by Mr. Lavington Bonython, Mayor of Adelaide,
T. Ryan, M.P., the Presidents of several scientific societies and
members of the University staff. This sum was eventually forthcoming and
it paved the way to greater things.

In Sydney, Professor David approached the State Government on behalf of
the Expedition for financial support, and, through the Acting Premier,
the Hon. W. A. Holman, L7000 was generously promised. The State of
Victoria through the Hon. W. Watt, Premier of Victoria, supplemented our
funds to the extent of L6000.

Upheld by the prestige of a large meeting convened in the Melbourne
Town Hall during the spring, the objects of the Australasian Antarctic
Expedition were more widely published. On that memorable occasion the
Governor-General, Lord Denman, acted as chairman, and among others
who participated were the Hon. Andrew Fisher (Prime Minister of the
Commonwealth), the Hon. Alfred Deakin (Leader of the Opposition),
Professor Orme Masson (President A.A.A.S. and representative of
Victoria), Senator