AN UNFORTUNATE BLAZE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 605, 7 September 1909, Page 4

AN UNFORTUNATE BLAZE.

>AT THE TARANAKI OIL WORKS. . (Ily Iclceraph.-I'rcsa AMoctattoD.l . Now Plymouth, September 6. , , • Dienst-cr overtook >tho Taraliaki Petroleum Company's; No. 3 bore at 6.3o'this evening, . shortly; after : work 'ceased and the . night-.-watchman had come on- duty./ It .appearg , ■, that the ; oil,:: which, had been, flowing spaa-, modically fell day 1 , .recommenced ,'abbut b.15, • and the watchman filled one barrel, and went outsido to scciiro auflther omtity barrel. A. strong wind\wasblowing,- arid' it is. believed . that- the''gas,- which i.was. issuing strongly :. from the,bore,.was. swept/by H tho-wind into >; the, boiler-room, somo distance l awayi In ail instant the. whole plant was a' maps of..flames,'. tho gas and oil issuing .from tho bore helping to feed thoi.llamcD. J The Avliolo : of • tbo. derrick was.!demolished within! an hour,, but ,1... through, the exortions. of, the manager\aud. • v staff it is LelioVed- that tho, boro. itself is', intact,' and safe... ■ •/:, . ..The, directors meet--in the. morning, : when .. immediate rebuilding - operations';', 'will, ' .pro- ; bably be decided : ; <>n. . Tho occurrence , was particularly unfortunate-,at: the" present'.time, when tbo : .produeirig : capacity "of this t>oro,. as well'as of No. 2 bore, had practically been; ■■ proved." l ' It is .not known,.whether " the 1 . ■ .machinery is , seriously damaged,' but, 1 in any -. ' case,) the further 'worki of,> developing \at tbo Wo will be. thrown back ftt:l6ast four'.\veblcs.. 'is a' singular coincidence -that this/well . .was demolished', bylire' ensuing oil", a" gas . : explosipn, s'oirip.:yearfl : ago; .'.'Aiid 1 it'-'waa. only /;; ■within (the.jpast I ,^'car-,l;nttt:it ,had';bc<Sn re-i. ■ oponed. rl'lio l prospects of :the'company, how- V ever,-1 are in. no :>way pormanently," damaged ; by the! present occurrence.v--li',.