Floating Mine Found Off Banks Peninsula
" WELLINGTON, l^arch 10. The eruiser Bellona today destroyed a floating wartime mine, 12 miles seaward of sAkaroa Heads, Banks Peninsula. A potential menace to all ship ping off the East Coast of the South Island including the inter-lsland passenger steamers Rangatira and Hiue moa, the mine had been floating in the area for a week at least. Crusted thickly with white barnicles and floating high in the water, the mine took
almost half an hour to sink by rifle, flre. The mine was a British moored type which could be fired by an eiectri eal impulse from shore, said the com-
mander oi the Beltona, Commander Phipps. The mine. probably had been laid during the war off sorne New Zealand harbour had broken away during a storm and drifted sixj.ee that time. Thxf mine was reported more- than a week ago by a Lyttelton fishermarx. The Bellona had spent some txme searching for it while on her way to Wellington. A high 4sea and gale rendered the flrst search • unavailing. Po flnd the mine almost in tbe same irea a week later, was a reai stroke of mck.
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Bibliographic details
Chronicle (Levin), 11 March 1949, Page 5
Word Count
194Floating Mine Found Off Banks Peninsula Chronicle (Levin), 11 March 1949, Page 5
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