MINESWEEPER LOST

STRUCK MINE AND SANK

OFFICER AND FOUR MEN MISSING

The minesweeper H.M.S. Puriri struck a mine and sank while carrying' out minesweeping' operations in Hauraki Gulf yesterday. An officer and four men are missing" and are presumed to have lost their lives. Three others were injured, but the remainder of the crew, comprising- five officers and 19 men, were uninjured and were saved.

The loss of the ship Avas announced last night by the Acting Prime Minister (Mr. Nash). "The Government deeply regrets to announce the loss of H.M.S. Puriri," stated Mr. Nash. "H.M.S. Puriri was commissioned as a minesweeper in the 25th (New Zealand) Minesweeping Flotilla as recently as April 19 last.

"She was engaged in mine-clearance operations in the Hauraki Gulf, when unfortunately—at about 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, May 14) —she struck a mine and sank immediately.

"The Government deeply regrets that one officer and four men are missing and must be presumed to have lost their lives. Two men are injured and one bruised, and were brought into harbour in charge of a medical officer. The two injured are now in hospital. The remaining five officers and 19 men have been saved and are uninjured. "The Government is sure that the whole population of the Dominion will join with it in expressing their deep sympathy with the relatives of the lost officer and men in this, the first casualty to a New Zealand warship. The relatives will, however, derive comfort from the fact that these men lost their lives in the performance of their important and dangerous duty."

The following is a list of the casual- Nelson, the Puriri was one of the finest ties, with the next-of-kin:— [cargo vessels on New Zealand coast. She was taken over by the Navy last year. Of 927 tons gross register she was 188 feet in length by 35 feet in width, and was designed to carry 800 tons deadweight on a mean draught of 11 feet 6 inches. Her crew's accommodation was particularly good. The men's quarters were two-berth rooms on the bridge 'tween decks, with the engineers' and officers' cabins above them. All her auxiliary and _ cargo handling machinery was electrically driven. Two four-cylinder Diesel engines gave her an economic speed of about 10 knots.

MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD.

William Douglas Blacklaws, Lieutenant, R.N.R. (N.Z.). Mrs. Ruth Aline Blacklaws, 35 Argyle Street, Herne Bay, Auckland (w.). Leon Purkin, Able Seaman. Mrs. Mary Marioty, Te Hoe, Putaruru (m.). John Richardson, Steward. George Edward Roy Hobley, Steward. Mrs. Dorothy Hobley, 55 Gribblehurst Road, Sandringham, Auckland (w.). j Barndt August Matson, Stoker Petty Officer. Mr. Benjamin Matson, Whenuapai, Auckland (f.). INJURED. Norman Bernard Dunning, Able Seaman, R.N.V.R. Mrs. Arabella A. Dun-' ning, 4 Konini Road, Hataitai, Wellington (m.). Duncan Rex Stewart, Able Seaman. Mrs. Beatrice Stewart, 247 Haven Road. Nelson (m.). Harold Martin West, Able Seaman. Mr. Noel Hartley West, 11 JFitzroy Road, Napier (f.). Dunning is suffering from bruises and has left for his home. Stewart is injured and in hospital. West is seriously injured and in hospital. The survivors were taken to Auckland wfyere they were met by an ambulance. Of the two injured men sent to hospital, one was deeply unconscious and the other, though obviously in pain, joked with the ambulance men. Lieutenant Blacklaws, who was* temporarily in command of the Puriri, was formerly an officer in the service of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Ltd.

TWO IN HOSPITAL

ONE CASE SERIOUS

THE MISSING COMMANDER

A FINE LITTLE SHIP

Built by Henry Robb, Ltd., in 1938 for the Anchor Shipping Company, of

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The condition of Able Seaman West, who was admitted to hospital from the Puriri, is reported today to be serious. Able Seaman Stewart is in a fairly satisfactory state. The survivors were brought to Auckland last evening. The missing commander, Lieutenant Blacklaws, was 37 years of age. Born in Scotland, he was educated in England, where he trained as a naval cadet. H? came to New Zealand while serving in the Mercantile Marine. He was navigating officer on the Aorangi for four years. He was called for service with the Navy on the outbreak of war and had served as navigating officer in H.M.S. Monowai. Four years ago Lieutenant Blacklaws married Miss Ruth Scott. There is a daughter, Sonya, aged two. His mother resides in Aberdeen. A brother was in the Dunkirk evacuation. There are several brothers in South Africa.