OIL BEDS IN NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 204, 23 May 1919, Page 6

OIL BEDS IN NEW ZEALAND

JUTUEE POSSIBILITIES.

About a million pounds sterling per year is being sent out of the country for petroleum products. In view of this, and in view also of the wasted effort and wasted money on boring, the Industries Committee lias the question under consideration. ~ • .'When Mr. P. G. Morgan, the chief mining expert for the Government, was before the committee yesterday he answered some questions on the eubjcot, Hβ said that he was confident that one day oil would be found in New Zealand in quantity. As to whether he should, adviso the Government to go in for extensive boring for oil, he said that boring for oil was so much of a hazard that ho would not care so to advise. He would recommend the Government to subsidise approved bores. ,•,-., With regard to seepages of oil in the Ure River Valley, in Marlborousjb, Mr. Morgan said that Dr. Allan Thomson had lately made a geological survey of the district, and the report was that the prospects of finding oil in quantity there were great. . - There was .a good 'oil-shale at Orepuki, iu Southland, .but unfortunately the 'presence of sulphur made the refining of -the oil expensive. Also ho understood that the mining of the shale wae expensive. ' As to natural gas resources, it was poßsible that something might be done with them, but experience had 6hown that in other countries these gas blows were apt to fail, and were therefore not reliable for permanent enterprises.