The Ranfurly Shield has dominated headlines around the country after it was won by the Southland Stags last month for the first time in 50 years.
It was a coincidence which did not go unnoted in Arrowtown last week, when two builders unearthed a cartoon-style book Shield Fever, Otago and Southland Shield Souvenir, by G. D. Henderson, printed in 1950, dedicated in 1952 to Bill and Alvena Dagg and uncovered on Friday, November 13, 2009.
Lindsay Bellamy, of Bagley Builders, was working with company owner Roy Bagley on the Roman's Cottage site in Arrowtown.
The pair were pulling down an old coal shed and after discovering some "chocolate boxes" which appeared to date back to the 1920s, Mr Bellamy discovered the book, in pristine condition, which appeared to have slid down into the Rimu sarking in the walls.
"It was right down at the bottom. I was going to spirit it away to my bag, but Roy was on it."
The pair opened the book to find the dedication to the Daggs, former owners of Coronet Peak Station.
Mrs Dagg used to live in Roman's Cottage, Mr Bellamy said.
The dedication read: "To Bill and Alvena, Hoping you can always muster" and signed by "Hen".
On Friday night the book was given back to its rightful owner at the New Orleans Hotel, in Arrowtown.
Mr Bagley told Mr Dagg (80) he had something for him and handed over the book.
Mr Dagg said he thought it was "a pretty good discovery".
"I had to think for a minute and I remembered it all quite plainly. I remember I met the chap Henderson several different nights. I think he was having a short break.
"We were just having a beer at the [Royal Oaks] hotel he was staying in. [Alvena and I] were just engaged and she was working at the Royal Oaks."
Mr Dagg said he believed the author was on a sort of book tour in the spring shearing time of 1952 when they met for a few yarns.
Known as "Hen", he signed the book and gave it to Mrs Dagg and they never heard from him again after he left.
Mrs Dagg (76) "couldn't remember too much about it," Mr Dagg said.
