MINE IN NEW ZEALAND WATERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 5

MINE IN NEW ZEALAND WATERS.

DISCOVERED OFF CAPE FAREWELL. A SUSPECTED LOCALITY. WELLINGTON,. February I*. Tho Naval Acrviscr to the New Zealand Government announced that an enemy mine has been discovered and exploded off Cape Farewell, in Cook Strait. The mine was, however, in tho area which has been suspected for some 'time past by tho naval authorities, and which all shipping had been warned to avoid. The announcement that a miiio has bea\ found near Gape Farewell will cause mori, surprise to the public than, to shipping people who have been navigating Cool, Strait because these waters have been suspected for some time, and shipping ha» ben warned about them. Infaot, the mine was discovered by sweepers craft specially fitted out for the work. Sweeping equipment was prepared .sometime ago—before ' there was any suspicion that any "neutral" or other craft had been sowing mines off the coast of New Zealand. There is now «6mo gruund for suspicion that tho Port Kembln was the victim of a mine, although the eyi-dc-noo at the inquiry all went to show that tho explosion was interna]. It is to bo expected that other mines will bt> discovered because it is not usual for mines to be'dropped singly or in twos 0/ threes.