Fallen statue yields message in a bottle from city founders

For almost 150 years, 19th-century Irish statesman John Robert Godley has been hiding some of the city's secrets

For almost 150 years, 19th-century Irish statesman John Robert Godley has been hiding some of the city's secrets.

But those secrets may soon be revealed after the statue erected in his honour in 1867 toppled from its plinth during the earthquake last week.

The Mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, said yesterday a handwritten message in a bottle and a sealed copper cylinder that is believed to contain documents had been discovered inside the statue of Godley. Museum experts are examining the items, but the time capsules appeared to contain a message from the city's founders expressing their vision for it.

"It seems almost providential that they have come to light now to provide the inspiration we need in this most difficult time," Mr Parker said.

"They'll be opened some time in the future."

The find was made by two workers helping with the clean-up in Christchurch's main square, in the shadow of the city's Anglican cathedral.

Scottish contractor Sean Haggarty received the cargo from a crane driver and immediately passed them on to Mr Parker.

"You might want to have these," Mr Haggarty said to Mr Parker.

When Mr Parker was told they were time capsules, his face lit up like he'd won the lottery, Mr Haggarty said.

Godley, known as the "founder of Canterbury" -- the South Island province Christchurch is in -- travelled in Ireland and North America, developing ideas about how colonies should be established and governed.

Museum director Anthony Wright told of another intriguing report indicating a third capsule had been found in the base of the cross that came off Christchurch Cathedral, the cornerstone of which was laid in 1864.

As for the two capsules found under Godley's statue, Mr Wright said paper could be seen in the half-smashed glass bottle and the first task would be to preserve it.

"The time capsule smells a bit like blue cheese and we can make out two words -- 'by' and 'erected'," he said.

Mr Wright added that people would love to know the full contents of both capsules -- and what was in the third one reported to have been found under the Cathedral cross.

Additional reporting: AAP