A GERMAN MINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1918, Page 1

A GERMAN MINE.

OFF I (TAJ, DENCKT PTION. Wellington April i

With reference to the Gorman mine recently washed up on the Awana beach at Great Barrier Island, the Xaval Adviser to the Government announces that the following brief description can now be given: “The. mine is of German make andof a type well known to the authorities. It is a cylindrical object, with spherical ends. It is Bft 4ins in circumference, with a longituda'l circmnferference of lift 3in. Internally the mine is divided into two compartments, the upper chamber being utilised for the electric wiring and mechanism and the lower for the explosive charge, and detonator. On top are live horns, ana. the internal mechanism is so arranged that when a vessel strikes one of the horns a. connexion is Set up with the detonator and the mine explodes. At the bottom is a mooring attachment and apparatus for ensuring that the mine, normally, will remain* at a certain depth; lint the latter had bee,, broken* away in tho present case “When found the mine had been considerably damaged by contact with rocks. All live horns had been completely smashed, the electric con- , ncxions had been carried away and the •case considerably dented. ,It is not clear why the mine did not explode at the first contact with the' rocks, hut probably this was duo fo the electric connexion being previously severed or perhaps to damage by water leaking into tile interior.'’

It is pointed out that tfie detonator was in position, and file mine was in a dangerous state, and any person''discovering an object ,in future 'should should not tamper with it, but should report the matter immediately to the nearest naval or military- police or Customs authority.