[6] The grotto party are making headway into the ice for our larder, but it is slow and very arduous work.

However, once made it will be admirable in every way.
To-morrow we begin sending ballast off to the ship; some 30 tons will be sledged off by the ponies.

The hut and grotto parties will continue, and the arrangements for the depot journey will be commenced.

I discussed these with Bowers this afternoon--he is a perfect treasure, enters into one's ideas at once, and evidently thoroughly understands the principles of the game.
I have arranged to go to Hut Point with Meares and some dogs to-morrow to test the ice and see how the land lies.

As things are at present we ought to have little difficulty in getting the depot party away any time before the end of the month, but the ponies will have to cross the Cape [7] without loads.