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The Watchmans Hut beside the harbour in Oamaru NZ.This little hut, and the Watchman were for a short time an important part of world history.
On 10th February 1913 the Watchman Neil McKinnon spied an unidentified ship beyond the harbour from which he directed a dinghy to the steps of Sumpter Wharf (the wharf I sometimes post photos of with the bird colony now nesting there).
On board were two Royal Navy officers Lieutenant Harry Pennell RN and Dr Edward Atkinson from Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic Expedition ship the Terra Nova.They had come to report to the world the death of Scott and his party.
The terrible news was telegraphed later that day to Christchurch and from there the world. Pennell & Atkinson spent some time with the Harbour Master before leaving Oamaru by train to rejoin the Terra Nova which had sailed on to Christchurch.
Remembering the polar party
Lieutenant H. R. Bowers
Petty officer Edgar "Taff" Evans
Captain L. E. G. Oates
Captain R. F. Scott
Dr. E. A. Wilson
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