I now turn to the fortunes and misfortunes of the Ross Sea Party and the ‘Aurora’.  In spite of extraordinary difficulties occasioned by the breaking out of the ‘Aurora’ from her winter quarters before sufficient stores and equipment had been landed, Captain Æneas Mackintosh and the party under his command achieved the object of this side of the Expedition.  For the depot that was the main object of the Expedition was laid in the spot that I had indicated, and if the transcontinental party had been fortunate enough to have crossed they would have found the assistance, in the shape of stores, that would have been vital to the success of their undertaking.  Owing to the dearth of stores, clothing, and sledging equipment, the depot party was forced to travel more slowly and with greater difficulty than would have otherwise been the case.  The result was that in making this journey the greatest qualities of endurance, self-sacrifice, and patience were called for, and the call was not in vain, as you reading the following pages will realize.  It is more than regrettable that after having gone through those many months of hardship and toil, Mackintosh and Hayward should have been lost.  Spencer-Smith during those long days, dragged by his comrades on the sledge, suffering but never complaining, became an example to all men.  Mackintosh and Hayward owed their lives on that journey to the unremitting care and strenuous endeavours of Joyce, Wild, and Richards, who, also scurvy-stricken but fitter than their comrades, dragged them through the deep snow and blizzards on the sledges.  I think that no more remarkable story of human endeavour has been revealed than the tale of that long march which I have collated from various diaries.  Unfortunately, the diary of the leader of this side of the Expedition was lost with him.  The outstanding feature of the Ross Sea side was the journey made by these six men.  The earlier journeys for the first year did not produce any sign of the qualities of leadership amongst the others.  Mackintosh was fortunate for the long journey in that he had these three men with him:  Ernest Wild, Richards, and Joyce.

Before proceeding with the adventures of this party I want to make clear in these pages how much I appreciate the assistance I received both in Australia and New Zealand, especially in the latter dominion.  And amongst the many friends there it is not invidious on my part to lay special stress on the name of Leonard Tripp, who has been my mentor, counsellor, and friend for many years, and who, when the Expedition was in precarious and difficult circumstances, devoted his energy, thought, and gave his whole time and advice to the best interests of our cause.  I also must thank Edward Saunders, who for the second time has greatly helped me in preparing an Expedition record for publication.

To the Dominion Government I tender my warmest thanks.  To the people of New Zealand, and especially to those many friends—­too numerous to mention here—­who helped us when our fortunes were at a low ebb, I wish to say that their kindness is an ever-green memory to me.  If ever a man had cause to be grateful for assistance in dark days, I am he.