Most Southern in the World #4 - Signal Station, Bluff NZ

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The Signal Station, Bluff, New Zealand

Though the postcard caption does not say so, the signal station at Bluff probably qualified as the southern most signal station at the time this card was published around 1910.

Signal stations monitored flag signals from vessels at sea and relayed them to shore-based locations. For example, an approaching ship's imminent arrival at Bluff might be signaled from the ship including information about whether a doctor was required upon docking, the ship was carrying mail, the ship required assistance, and so on. Signals might also be sent in either direction about weather conditions such as approaching storms. Flag signals were soon to be superceded by wireless radio when this picture was taken.

The Awarua wireless radio station at Invercargill did not open until 1913. Its task was to monitor marine radio for distress signals and other communication in the southern oceans. On the night of 23 March 1916 it was Alfred Goodwin at Awarua who picked up a distress signal from Ernest Shackleton's Ross Sea party that their ship the Aurora had been disabled by sea ice and they needed assistance.

Most Southern in the World #3 - Pilot Station, Bluff

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The Most Southern in the World Pilot Station, Stirling Point, Bluff NZ

Continuing with our "most southern in the world" series from the early 20th century, here is the pilot's station at Bluff, on the southern shores of the South Island of New Zealand. No doubt the station was a cosy spot for the harbour pilot waiting to go out to board a vessel needing to be piloted into Bluff Harbour.

A view along the shoreline to the pilot's station on the point as a vessel hoves into view.

Pilot station, now disused, in 2007

Standing as testament to those who built her, the now abandoned pilot station still stands on Stirling Point. Those wire guy ropes were there for a reason - the prevailing westerly winds often reach gale force in Foveaux strait, a treacherous, stormy stretch of water between the South Island and Stewart Island. Nevertheless, given its low situation, it's amazing that the station has not been washed away by high seas over the past one hundred years or more.