5.  If convenient Williams might look at the blubber cooking stove in the Discovery Hut and provide some sheet metal, etc., to keep it in good repair.

6.  One of the old blubber stoves adapted as in stables and some chimney pipe should be placed in the Meteorological Hut if it is erected to the west.

7.  To provide for possible difficulty in keeping up supply of blubber for Discovery Hut stove in March and April it might be useful to have a few bags of coal there, if you can spare them and land them conveniently.  Last year we managed very well without coal.

8.  If when erecting the stables, etc., the carpenter has not time to see to smaller matters, such as the repairing of the porch entrance, etc., will you please leave sufficient wood for the purpose.  A drift screen would be an advantage outside door of porch.

9.  If you erect the Meteorological Hut, and can conveniently do so, it would help for you to leave a few cases of provisions in it.  Bowers leaves a note with Simpson on this point.

10.  If at any time during the season it is convenient to you without undue expenditure of coal to land at Cape Crozier, I should like you to leave a small depot of provisions there.  The object of this depot is to support a sledge party to visit the region early next season.  Bowers leaves a note with Simpson concerning the stores required.  They should be placed near the Discovery record post.

11.  To assist the signalling to you from Hut Point you might land rockets or port-fires.

In regard to the constitution of the wintering party for the second winter, much must remain in doubt.  The following members will return in any case: 

   1.  Taylor, whose leave of absence transpires.
   2.  Ponting, who will have completed his work.
   3.  Anton, who has had enough of it.

Anton took the dark season very badly; it preyed on his superstitions, but he has worked like a Trojan and is an excellent little man.  Please recommend him highly if he wants to get work in New Zealand.

Meares may possibly return; it depends on letters from home.

The following are certain to stay:  Bowers, Simpson, Debenham, Wright, Nelson, Atkinson, Clissold, Hooper, Dimitri.

The movements of the following depend (i) on the date of the return from the South; (ii) on the fresh transport which you have brought:  Myself, Wilson, Evans, Oates, Cherry-Garrard, Gran, Day, and the seamen.

If you have brought fresh transport the probability is that all these will remain.  If you have not brought fresh transport the majority, if not all, who are able to catch the ship will return.  The decision is in every case voluntary and subject to alteration on receipt of home news or from other causes.

It is impossible for me to speak too highly of any member of the Expedition who has remained in this party, and you must do your best to see that the reasons of returning members are generally understood.