At the beginning of Second Beach, stop to admire the view, and the mural on the c 1900 stormwater outlet.
WARNING: THERE IS A SHEER DROP TO THE BEACH NEARBY. WATCH CHILDREN CAREFULLY.
Go around to the sea side of the fence, one step past the surfers track down to the beach. Then look on the safe side of the track. You are looking for a 50 ml container, Bring your own pen.
Second Beach was quarried for basalt for roading from the 1880s, first by the Caversham Borough Council and then from the 1920s by the Dunedin City Council. The concrete walls are what is left of the old loading bays. In 1922 five skeletons were found at the quarry, probably Maori of high rank who were buried on the clifftop.
On Forbury Hill right above this cache, there used to be a gun battery. It was built in 1885 in panic that the Russians would invade http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/the-russians-are-coming
From 1885 to 1911 the St Clair battery had a 7-inch RML gun. Its range was as far as Lawyers Head. An 8-inch disappearing gun was also planned, but never emplaced. From 1888 to 1893 a 6pdr Nordenfeldt gun was added to the battery and used for training of Artillery Volunteers. They used White Island as a target until it was feared it might be shot away and become a dangerous reef. Then they used a target towed behind a boat. Map and photos: https://sites.google.com/site/nzcoastaldefences/dunedin-s-coastal-defences/forbury-head
The battery kept being used until WWI and the fort existed until the 1950s, but the land was eventually subdivided into six sections balloted to ex-servicemen.
See photo of gun here http://hockensnapshop.ac.nz/nodes/view/8579
