Crate of Beer Unearthed

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 41, 18 February 1939, Page 7

Crate of Beer Unearthed

If tho township of VYaipori sees an influx of Dunedin residents, armed with shovel, spade and pick, this week-end, a miner, Mr. James Gare, can be held responsible. For Mr. Garc, during tho course of digging at tho old township, came across ‘ ‘ buried treasure" of a most unusual nature, states the Star.

He was, at the time, digging at the rear of tho store formerly owned by Mr. F. W. Knight, when, to his amazement, ho came across a crate containing bottles of beer. This in itself was no small cause for commont, but when it was discovered that tho beer must have been buried for the greater part of 60 years, a minor sensation was created.

Tho crate itself crumbled to dust upon being touched, but tho bottles, being of stouter material, were as sound as the day they were buried. More than that, the majority of tho bottles were still full of beer. In ono or two instances tho corks had rotted away and tho beer had probably gone towards providing the worms with a real "night out,” but tho only visible evidence of the ravages of time on the remaining bottles were the wearing of the printed labels, and the rusting of the wires which had fastened *the corks in position.

There was J sufficient evidence to prove that the beer had been bottled by Keast and McCarthy, well-known brewers in Dunedin, mtire than 60 years ago. Two of the bottles, one full and one empty, have found their way into tho possession of Messrs. R. l’owley and Company, where they were inspected this morning. The bottles are very dark, much darker than those used to-day, but there was no disputing that one contained the liquid which Had originally been placed within. The empty bottle smelt fresh and clean, but the full one was not opened, even to satisfy tho curiosity of interested spectators who wondered how "potent" the brew might be after such a lengthy burial.

Mr. Gare distributed most of the full bottles amongst his friends, and the general report was that the beer was quite good, and kept very well. Another curiosity which has just come into the possession of Messrs. R. Powley and Company is a heavy beer bottle of German manufacture. These bottles were used by Messrs. Powley and Keast, who years ago had a brewery in Castle Street and ceased operations in 1914. No similar bottles were imported for a while before tho Great War, so the bottle must originally have gone into circulation in 1912 or 1913. Where it has been in those intervening 27 years, who can tell? It came to light during the washing of several other bottles.