Boer War artillery sparks bomb scare

Photo / File

An old artillery piece from the Boer War sparked a bomb scare in rural Canterbury yesterday.

Police said the "historical article" was found at Amuri Historical Cob Cottage Museum. It was believed staff or volunteers at the North Canterbury museum were spring-cleaning or rearranging exhibits when they uncovered the relic about 3pm.

Not knowing what it was or how old the artillery piece was, the museum called police. The Defence Force was also alerted.

By about 7pm, the piece's identity was revealed.

"It was a two-pound artillery piece from the Boer War", police southern communications Inspector John Doherty said.

Investigations found the piece, at least 112 years old, was no longer explosive.

Mr Doherty said it would probably stay at the museum.

Nobody from the museum could not be reached for comment last night.

The Second Anglo-Boer War was fought in South Africa from 1899 to 1902. About 6500 New Zealand men went to Africa to fight for the British Empire.

Seventy-one of those were killed in action or died of wounds, according to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.