A GERMAN MINE DESTROYED.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1918, Page 5

A GERMAN MINE DESTROYED.

GREAT BARRIER DERELICT. FORCE OF EXPLOSIVE TESTED, The derelict German mine which, was discovered washed up on Awana Beach, on the eastern side of Great Barrier Island recently, was rendered harmless on March 22 by Lieutenant E.J. Browning, of the District Headquarters Staff, and several members of the Royal Now Zealand Artillery. Lieutenant Browing was for two years engaged at the Sobmarine Mining Station, Wellington, while his assistants have qualified as submarine miners-and electricians. The results of the precautions taken to render the mine safe (says the Auckland Herald) were exceedingly satisfactory, the shell, interior mechanism—all more or less severely damaged—and a quantity of the well-preserved explosive being secured and brought to Auckland. | Acting under instructions from Captain Hall-Thompson, Naval Advittr to the New Zealand Government, preparations for the destruction vof the mine - were completed on March 21, and at 10 p.m. on that day the party left for Awana Beach, arriving at 7 a.m. next day. District-Constable Johnson and' the finder of the- mine, Mr, F. Gray, a settler, met the party, and they immediately approached the mine, which was high and dry on the tech, 50 yards above low-water mark- Tljp dangerous war weapon had been secured by a steel hawser, and a notice had bean erected warning settlers not to interfere with it. DISCOVERY BY SETTLER.

Mr. Gray said the mine was wanted Whore during a terrific swell pn March 4, but he did not examine it until MaTeh 6, when he came to the conclusion that it was a mine. As the police station was situated at Okupu, some miles distant, he did not at once report his find, but waited until the visit of a district constable on March 10. After a thorough investigation Lieutenant. Browning expressed the opinion that the mine would have to "be blown open. About 31b of gimcotton was set at the base, and. after the party had retired to what was considered a safe distance the charge was exploded.' The report was resounding, and the mine was hurled 20ft in the air and about 28 yards along the beach. Huge volumes of yellow fumes were scattered along the beach, and were noticeable some considerable time afterwards. The explosives contained in the mine did not detonate, the only damage done to the mine being the tearing open of its base aftd the breaking and the twisting of the mechanism inside. The explosive, which consisted (orf a ntunlber of hexagonal blocks, was strewn about the beach. It was yellowish in color, and with an odour which suggested picric acid. Several samples of the explosive were secured, and the rest was gathered up, %nd principally as a precaution against accident to local "settlers, and partly to test the efficacy of the explosive, it was placed above a small charge of guneotton, and detonated. The result was a, terrific explosion, which reverberated among the hills for many minutes. Debris, consisting' of sand, stones, and stieKs was thrown to a height of at least MOftThe La/ly Roberts, which was anchored one mile off shore, was literelly showered with sand. A miniature crater some Bft in depth and 16ft in diameter was torn in the earth, thus, indicating in' some small measure the power of tne | explosiveThe portions of the mine saved by Lieutenant Brown have been forwarded to Captain Hall-Thompson at Wellington.