FLOATING MINES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1941, Page 3

FLOATING MINES

CARRIED BY STORM

INTO HAURAKI GULF.

TEN REPORTED SUNK.

(Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. July 29.

Carried into Hauraki Gulf by heavy northerly weather, numbers of floating mines were sighted and sunk by the naval authorities at the weekend. Others went ashore on Great Barrier Island. The master ’of the Auckland fishing launch Waipawa, which returned from the fishing ground today, stated that he had reported the presence of three mines between Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier on Saturday. The launch's master, Captain George Marks, said that when a seine net was being set about 10.30 on Saturday morning an object which appeared to be a mine was sighted about a quarter of a mile away. When the Waipawa approached to 100 yards it was identified as a floating mine. In view of the possibility of sunken mines in the vicinity, the fishing gear was shipped again and, when closer examination was being made, a second mine was seen about a quarter of a mile distant. As the Waipawa did not have sufficient equipment to buoy both mines, one buoy was put between the two and the launch then proceeded toward Port Fitzroy on Great Barrier Island. On the journey a third mine was sighted about 200 yards from Wellington Heads.

From Port Fitzroy the naval authorities were advised by telephone of the bearings of the three mines, and, acting on instructions, the Waipawa put to sea ‘to stand by before the mines were reached. Minesweepers were in the vicinity and, according to Captain Marks, had already sunk seven mines in that locality. The remaining three were then sunk by small arms fire, 10 having been disposed of in about two hours.