Meares got back from Corner Camp at 8 A.M.  Sunday morning—­he got through on the telephone to report in the afternoon.  He must have made the pace, which is promising for the dogs.  Sixty geographical miles in two days and a night is good going—­about as good as can be.

I have had to tell Clissold that he cannot go out with the Motor Party, to his great disappointment.  He improves very steadily, however, and I trust will be fit before we leave with the ponies.  Hooper replaces him with the motors.  I am kept very busy writing and preparing details.

We have had two days of northerly wind, a very unusual occurrence; yesterday it was blowing S.E., force 8, temp. -16 deg., whilst here the wind was north, force 4, temp. -6 deg..  This continued for some hours—­a curious meteorological combination.  We are pretty certain of a southerly blizzard to follow, I should think.

Wednesday, October 18.—­The southerly blizzard has burst on us.  The air is thick with snow.

A close investigation of the motor axle case shows that repair is possible.  It looks as though a good strong job could be made of it.  Yesterday Taylor and Debenham went to Cape Royds with the object of staying a night or two.

Sunday, October 22.—­The motor axle case was completed by Thursday morning, and, as far as one can see, Day made a very excellent job of it.  Since that the Motor Party has been steadily preparing for its departure.  To-day everything is ready.  The loads are ranged on the sea ice, the motors are having a trial run, and, all remaining well with the weather, the party will get away to-morrow.

Meares and Demetri came down on Thursday through the last of the blizzard.  At one time they were running without sight of the leading dogs—­they did not see Tent Island at all, but burst into sunshine and comparative calm a mile from the station.  Another of the best of the dogs, ‘Czigane,’ was smitten with the unaccountable sickness; he was given laxative medicine and appears to be a little better, but we are still anxious.  If he really has the disease, whatever it may be, the rally is probably only temporary and the end will be swift.

The teams left on Friday afternoon, Czigane included; to-day Meares telephones that he is setting out for his second journey to Corner Camp without him.  On the whole the weather continues wretchedly bad; the ponies could not be exercised either on Thursday or Friday; they were very fresh yesterday and to-day in consequence.  When unexercised, their allowance of oats has to be cut down.  This is annoying, as just at present they ought to be doing a moderate amount of work and getting into condition on full rations.

The temperature is up to zero about; this probably means about -20 deg. on the Barrier.  I wonder how the motors will face the drop if and when they encounter it.  Day and Lashly are both hopeful of the machines, and they really ought to do something after all the trouble that has been taken.