FLOATING MINE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1927, Page 1

FLOATING MINE

RELIC OK THE WAR. SYDNEY. July -2-2. The wiir has been over for nearly ten years. It is nine years since the German raider Wolf was abroad in the Pacific laying mines, which resulted in the ibss of several British merchant steamers. Yet this week a seafr.img man who had had previous experience of mines, reported that ho had seen one of these grim reminders of the war afloat near Gabo, off the lar south I coast of New South \Y ales. The mine was reported by Ylr Xorman Heggarty, of Sydney, a launch proprietor, who was the successful tenderer for the purchase of the cargo landed from the stranded steamer Riverina. and who is now engaged in transporting the cargo to Sydney. Tn a message to the navigation authorities in Sydney, Air Heggarty reported that he saw the mine in a position about seven miles south of Twofold Bay. Yfr Heggarty was accompanied by three fishermen who were familiar with the appearance of mines found off Gabo after the YVolf had laid a minefield near there in 1917. They believe this to he one previously undiscovered by minesweepers and recently broken Imm its moorings. WARNING TO SHIPPING. Immediafelv the report was received warnings were radioed to masters of Moiiin* ; . .Vi roon ns confirmation is receive*! ot tlie report, the Navy Department will send a vessel out to tiestmy it. Rut the suggestion has been made that the object sighted might have been a barrel from the Riverina’s cargo, although the possibility that it is a mine is given official support. One mine was discovered floating near Gabo as late as 1922. If it is a mine freshly broken loose from its moorings, it constitutes a menace in the oath of inter-State shipping, although a. considerable body of export opinion. i y