Explosives, real and imagined

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33453, 7 February 1974, Page 1

Explosives, real and imagined

(Neto Zealand Press Association? WIIANGAREI, February 6. Police confirmed today that an explosive device, which failed to detonate, was attached to the historic Russell flagpole last night.

Explosives experts re moved the device, sail Inspector B. E. Wells, oi Whangarei. The explosive device was found last night during a routine check by Constable S. Thomson, of Russell. Meanwhile Kawakawa police, who are guarding the Waitangi Treaty House flagpole on the opposite shore of the Bay of Islands, reported today that they had received an anonymous phone call stating that the pole would be destroyed. The Russell flagpole has had a chequered career since it was raised in 1840 when Governor William Hobson set up headquarters in the township. The Maori chief Hone Heke and his warriors chopped the original flagpole down three times — once in

i-l 1844 and twice in 1845 — in j(protest against, the Treaty of r Waitangi. *! Navy divers searched beneath the Waitangi Jetty yesterday afternoon shortly before members of the Royal Family arrived there from the Royal Yacht Britannia. The divers were looking for explosive devices which police had been told might be there. Police also checked the superstructure of the Waitangi bridge over which the ■official Government motoricade passed an hour before the Queen arrived. Inspector Wells said that no explosives were found.