FLOATING MINES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24672, 30 July 1941, Page 4

FLOATING MINES

SIGHTED IN HAURAKI GULF LAUNCH MASTER'S DISCOVERY SUNK BY NAVAL AUTHORITIES (P.A.) AUCKLAND. July 29. Carried into Hauraki Gulf by hevay northerly weather, numbers of floating mines were sighted and sunk by the naval authorities at the week-end. Others went ashore on Great Barrier Island. The master of the Auckland fishing launch Waipawa. which returned from the fishing grounds to-day. said he had 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 be a mine was sighted about a-quarter of a mile away. When the Waipawa approached to 100 yards it was identified as a floating 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-auarter of ■» mile distant.

As the Waipawa did not have sufficient equipment to buoy both mines, one buoy was put between the two, and the launch thfn proceeded towards Port Fitzroy on GreM Barrier Island. On the journey a third mine was sighted about 200 yards from Wellington Heads. From Port Fitzroy the naval authorities were advised by telephone of the bearings of the three mines, and, acting on instructions, the WaiDaxva put to sea to stand by. Before the mines were reached minesweepers were in the vicinity, and. according to Captain Marks, had already sunk seven mines in that locality. The remaining three were then sunk by small arms fire, 10 having been disposed of in about two hours.