SHIPPING MENACE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23318, 29 September 1945, Page 7

SHIPPING MENACE

Mines In N.Z. Walers (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 28. “Hundreds of German mines were laid in New Zealand waters during the early years of the war,” said the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) in a statement to-day. “The most dangerous enemy minefield was in the Hauraki Gulf, in which no fewer than 228 mines of the moored contact type were laid by a raider in about seven hours. The first victim was the 'Onion Company’s Pacific liner, Niagara carrying a valuable consignment of gold, most of which was subsequently retrieved. Later the minesweeper was sunk by a mine with the loss of five lives. “Mines were also sown by German vessels close to the harbour entrances of Wellington and Lyttelton in 1941. “Thanks to the prompt measures taken by the Government through the Royal New Zealand Navy and the ceaseless labour involved ‘in carrying them out, the losses due to the enemy’s bold and well-conducted attack on our ports and shipping were light.” German Revelations Immediately after the conclusion of hostilities against Germany the New Zealand Naval Board requested the Admiralty to get from the German Naval authorities precise information regarding the mine-laying activities of raiders in New Zealand waters and a characteristically prompt reply was received. The interrogation at Wilhelmshaven of Rear-Admiral Kurt Weger, who was captain of the Murmark in 1940-41, elicited the details of the Hauraki Gulf minefield. From him also was obtained a track chart showing how and when the mines were laid. An even more interesting revelation made by the Germans is that Ship 45 which was operating with the Murmark when the Holmw'Ood and Rangitane were sunk in New Zealand waters in November, 1940, claimed to have laid mines close to the entrances to Wellington and Lyttelton harbours ir June 1941. In both cases 10 mine.l- - laid in irregular lines across thr swept channels. Unlike those laid in the Hauraki Gulf, these were ground mines possibly magnetic or ever acoustic. They were probably fitted with a time mechanism for arming and time-firing. It is improbably, after the lapse of more than four years, that any of these ground mines are still active, since their dry batteries should have deteriorated. The Admiralty view is that they can now be considered safe. From the reported time of laying, undegaussed ships have passed continually over the areas, which have also been swept by a flotilla fitted for dealing with magnetic and acoustic mines.