MINES IN THE GULF

Evening Star, Issue 23950, 30 July 1941, Page 6

MINES IN THE GULF

FISHING LAUNCH'S DISCOVERY BUOYED AND SUNK (P.A.I AUCKLAND, July 29. Carried into Hauraki Gulf by heavy northerly weather* numbers pf floating mines were sighted and sunk by the naval authorities at the week-end. Others went ashore on. Great Barrier The master of Auckland fishing launch Waipawa, which returned from the fishing grounds to-day, said he naa reported the presence of three mines between Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier on Saturday. The master. Captain George Marks; said that when a seine net was being set about 10.30 on Saturday morning an object which appeared to he a mine, was sighted about a quarter.or a mi ! l© away. When the Waipawa approached to 100 yards it was identified as a float-, ing mine. , , In view of the possibility of sunken mines in the vicinity, the fishing gear was shipped again, and when a closer examination was being made a second mine was seen about a quarter of a mile distant. _ As the Waipawa did not have suificient equipment to buy both mines, one buoy was put between the two, and the launch then proceeded towards Port Fitzroy on Great Barrier Island. On the journey a third mine was sighted about 200 yards from Wellington Heads, a promontory of the island. _ From Port Fitzroy the naval authorities were advised by telephone of the bearings of the three and. acting on instructions, the Waipawa put to sea to stand by. Before the mines were reached minesweepers were, in the vicinity, and, according to Captain Marks, bad already sunk seven mines in that locality. The remaining three were then sunk by small-amis fire, 10 having been disposed pf in about two hours*