FOUND AFTER 67 YEARS

Southland Times, Issue 24574, 24 October 1941, Page 6

FOUND AFTER 67 YEARS

OLD CLAY PIPE BROUGHT TO LIGHT A curious find was made the other day when alterations were being made to the shop occupied by Aitchison’s Ltd., Dee street. Some bricks and mortar were being removed by Mr A. Turner when he came across a clay pipe. The shop is in the Public Library building, which was erected in 1874, so that the pipe must have been embedded for 67 years. Nevertheless, it was in perfect condition and there was still some tobacco in the bowl. It is probable that the workman who owned the pipe placed it on the unfinished wall and that another workman came along and poured a bucket of cement over it. Though a clay pipe does not cost much, this one was probably valued by the man who owned it because it has such a well-seasoned look. Besides, it is not just an ordinary clay pipe. The bowl is shaped to represent a thistle and a rose and a shamrock are embossed on the bowl, which also bears the trade mark, “Island Bridge.” Though clay pipes are seldom used in New Zealand nowadays, except perhaps for blowing bubbles, in the days when the library was built in Invercargill they were the favourite pipe amonjj workmen. In the Old Country it is still common to see workmen smoking clay pipes. There are those who maintain that a clay pipe gives the best smoke of all, though their cheapness is probably the chief reason for their popularity. Mr W. Aitchison said that when he was a boy in Glasgow clay pipes were sold at five a penny. They are dearer today, but are still much cheaper than the cheapest briar. Mr Aitchison said he intended to display .the pipe in the window of the shop. {