TWO MINES NOW SWEPT UP

Southland Times, Issue 24158, 21 June 1940, Page 8

TWO MINES NOW SWEPT UP

CLEANING CHANNEL USED BY NIAGARA SWEEPS BUSY AT OTHER POINTS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 20. Two other mines have been swept up in the locality where the Niagara was sunk yesterday morning, according to an official announcement made today. Replying to a question, the Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) gave an assurance that every precaution was being taken to guard against further mishap.

“Mine-sweeping will be continued in this channel until it is absolutely clear,” said Mr Fraser, who added that minesweeping was also being carried out in other places where there was any likelihood of danger to shipping. The Director of Publicity (Mr J. T. Paul) announces that because mines have been discovered the departure of overseas vessels and the inter-island steamer express service have been suspended until further notice. SHIP’S COMMANDER LONG SERVICE WITH UNION COMPANY A well-known and popular figure inmany ports of the Pacific, the commander of the Niagara, Captain W. Martin, joined the liner about five years ago. He was an officer in ships of the Union Company’s fleet before the last war, and, after being chief officer of the hospital ship Maheno in the early part of the war, he received his first command on a cargo vessel. Since then Captain Martin has been master of a number of cargo and passenger ships of the fleet. Captain Martin married Miss Daisy Hamilton, of Bluff, a sister of Mr D. Hamilton, a well-known Rugby footballer and cricketer some years ago. When first commissioned the Niagara was commanded by Captain John Gibb. Other masters have been Captain John Rolls, who was in command in the last war, Captain H. A. Morrisby, Captain D. McLean, Captain A. Showman, and Captain T. V. Hill, now master of the Aorangi. LETTER MAILS SENT BY AIR (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 20. In the special circumstances created by the cancellation of sailings of the inter-island steamers yesterday arrangements were made for inter-island letter mails to be despatched by air, stated the Postmaster-General (the Hon. P. C. Webb) today. By a special aeroplane which left Wellington at approximately 6.20 this morning 13001 b of letters for the South Island were despatched to Christchurch. The outward portion of this mail connected with the southern express, which was delayed about an hour to enable the connection to be made. The aeroplane left Christchurch for Wellington on its return at 9 a.m. carrying 12001 b of letters for the North Island. Similarly two-way exchanges of letter mails had been made by air between Wellington and Blenheim and Wellington and Nelson. Connections were also made with the West Coast.