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.
