Bowers has completed his southern storeroom and brought the wing across the porch on the windward side, connecting the roofing with that of the porch.  The improvement is enormous and will make the greatest difference to those who dwell near the door.

The carpenter has been setting up standards and roof beams for the stables, which will be completed in a few days.  Internal affairs have been straightening out as rapidly as before, and every hour seems to add some new touch for the better.

This morning I overhauled all the fur sleeping-bags and found them in splendid order—­on the whole the skins are excellent.  Since that I have been trying to work out sledge details, but my head doesn’t seem half as clear on the subject as it ought to be.

I have fixed the 25th as the date for our departure.  Evans is to get all the sledges and gear ready whilst Bowers superintends the filling of provision bags.

Griffith Taylor and his companions have been seeking advice as to their Western trip.  Wilson, dear chap, has been doing his best to coach them.

Ponting has fitted up his own dark room—­doing the carpentering work with extraordinary speed and to everyone’s admiration.  To-night he made a window in the dark room in an hour or so.

Meares has become enamoured of the gramophone.  We find we have a splendid selection of records.  The pianola is being brought in sections, but I’m not at all sure it will be worth the trouble.  Oates goes steadily on with the ponies—­he is perfectly excellent and untiring in his devotion to the animals.

Day and Nelson, having given much thought to the proper fitting up of their corner, have now begun work.  There seems to be little doubt that these ingenious people will make the most of their allotted space.

I have done quite a lot of thinking over the autumn journeys and a lot remains to be done, mainly on account of the prospect of being cut off from our winter quarters; for this reason we must have a great deal of food for animals and men.

Friday, January 20.—­Our house has assumed great proportions.  Bowers’ annexe is finished, roof and all thoroughly snow tight; an excellent place for spare clothing, furs, and ready use stores, and its extension affording complete protection to the entrance porch of the hut.  The stables are nearly finished—­a thoroughly stout well-roofed lean-to on the north side.  Nelson has a small extension on the east side and Simpson a prearranged projection on the S.E. corner, so that on all sides the main building has thrown out limbs.  Simpson has almost completed his ice cavern, light-tight lining, niches, floor and all.  Wright and Forde have almost completed the absolute hut, a patchwork building for which the framework only was brought—­but it will be very well adapted for our needs.

Gran has been putting ‘record’ on the ski runners.  Record is a mixture of vegetable tar, paraffin, soft soap, and linseed oil, with some patent addition which prevents freezing—­this according to Gran.