A few of the Campbell Island ghost stories:
* "The blue man" who, in former days, popped up in the mist in front of a whaler climbing Mount Lyall.
* The bloke who, in broad daylight, appeared and then disappeared to a shepherd standing on Mowbray early last Century. The apparition, dressed in early 19th Century clothes, startled the shepherd, but terrified his sheep dog.
* A ghostly shepherd, whose shrill whistle pierced the peace of the island's weather station lounge late one night circa the early 1950s. The story claims the technicians' dog cowered terrified in the corner - at the time all the people known to be on the remote island were in the one room.
* The one-footed ghost, pondered over by MetService employees in more recent times. This "spirit" apparently left a single, booted print in snow, not too far from a building but metres from, and too far to jump to, the nearest walkway.
* MetService employees and others are also supposed to have noted doors which seem to have been locked or unlocked, sans any human agency.
* And, of course, numerous old sea seafarers said they spotted the most famous Campbell Island ghost of them all, the Jacobite Princess or "Lady of the Heather".
Supposedly the illegitimate grand daughter of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the story goes that she was banished to the island in the 1820s. About 180 years ago, this lady was apparently fond of walking in the moonlight, dressed in her Stuart plaids.
Strange wildflowers called Megaherbs grow across Campbell and other sub-Antarctic Islands. PHOTO/PAUL CHARMAN
But before students of demonology get too excited, they should note that - though a faithful recorder of such myths as part of the complex history of the island - the highly experienced Norm Judd hasn't seen a single Campbell Island spook.
That's surprising, if the spirits are real, as Norm has visited many times, effectively lived on the island for years and even camped out for days alone.
On that last occasion, he used old photographs, to search for and eventually re-discover the grave of a French sailor, who died on Campbell Island in 1874.
Yet Norm says the island has an odd energy all its own, and he certainly has seen odd things.
Archaeologists researching ancient dwellings, buffeted by wind and rain in Tucker Cove, Campbell Island. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
For example, back in the 1970s, while leading an expedition back in the early 1970s, he became gravely concerned while driving an under-powered boat loaded down with MetService and other workers. Norm made for shore but began to doubt the craft would make it through the rough and deteriorating swells in Perseverance Harbour.
But one second giant swells were rolling through the harbour entrance, and the next these disappeared and the sea became calm and peaceful.
Pragmatist Norm reckons that this scene, which to some of us is reminiscent of the famous "peace, be still passage" in the Gospel of St Mark (4:39), was merely due to freakish, but natural, wind and tidal conditions at the time.
As for the so-called "blue man", he believes that the apparition is explained by light refraction, through cloud.
He's certain that the Lady of the Heather is based on a spurious story spread by a journalist, one Robert Carrick, who visited the island aboard the Hinemoa in 1891, then sold the tale to gullible newspaper editors. But over the years Norm has carefully documented the condition of the hut in which the lady is supposed tom have lived. He admits it's possible she was one of the ship girls who came to the island during the sealing era.
The Campbell Island Bicentennial Expedition 2010 to 2011. Mark Crompton is far right and Norm Judd third from right. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
It's even possible she lived in the hut, or wore Stuart plaids, perhaps providing a kernel of truth for the romantic tale.
He has no view on the ghostly whistling, the one-footed ghost, the strange door openings or various other ghostly phenomena reported over the years . . .
But obviously profound silence and isolation of this, the most remote part of New Zealand, makes it just the kind of place in which people may indeed, "begin to image things".
* Norm Judd is negotiating with DOC and the Navy, to obtain support for an expedition to Campbell Island early next year, to protect vulnerable archaeological sites there. He says several of the historic sites, including the "The Lady of the Heather Hut" are being modified by vegetation and lumbering sea lions.
Tourists at Camp Cove, Campbell Island, in 2013.
PHOTO/PAUL CHARMAN
He will update his conservation efforts at the forthcoming conference for former MetService and other Government staff, sent to the island from the 1960s till the 1990s. From 120 to 130 are expected at this event in Wellington, over Queens Birthday Weekend.
