GISBORNE PETROLEUM

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2087, 13 January 1908, Page 1

GISBORNE PETROLEUM

VISIT O.F ASSISTANT GEOLOGIST. The discoverey of petroleum in this district dates back for a considerable period, tho first bore being started on December 11th, 1884. On December 9th, 1887, the derrick was burned and over £20,000 bad been spent by tlie South Pacific Company. On October 1885. samples of tin* oil were sent to tho manager of the Pacific Oil Coy, California, for analysis, and his reply was to the effect that it wa.s sweet, easily distilled oil, of fiiik.*- quality! and high fire test, in fact, the largest percentage of any oil lie had seen. It yielded illuminating oil 91.60 per cent, paraffin 2.95 per cent, and waste or loss, 2.55 per cent. If tho Taranaki experiments prove successful, it will givo a great fillip to this portion of the country. Tho statement has been made that some people like this side better than Taranaki, and consider the prospects very eatisfaetoy here. It is ascertained that several moil with large experience in the business give it as their opinion that the indications warrant a greater expenditure on the Gisborne side than at Taranaki.

Air. J. H. Adams, Assistant Government Geologist, arrived in Gisborne on Saturday morning, to commence a survey -in the AA’hatatutu district. In conversation with a Times reporter, lie said that Dr. J. AI. Bell, would arrive early in February, probably the Ist, make an examination, and practically carry on tlio survey. Air. Adams leaves this morning for Whatatutu and will make a geological examination of the country, purely a surfaco investigation, to find out tho succession of the strata and tho dip and strike of this, so as to be able to decido the anticlines and sinclines. “Of course,” said Air. Adams, “wo will got any information -we can with regard to former borings, and examine that portion particularly, and, if possible, get samples of tho oil and have them anaylsed by tlio Colonial Analyst at Wellington.” Asked as to the time which would bo occupied in tlio investigation, Air. Adams stated that lie did not know exactly how long they would bo and it would depend oil tho extent of tho country, and probably three months or perhaps moro would elapse. Tho work will be completed as soon as possible as tliero is other work on hand. AV-ork is at -present proceeding at the llauraki division, AATiangaroa, for copper, Karamea, Alount Radiant and also the southern portion of tho north AVestlaud district, and) the latter should be finished shortly and a bulletin come out this year. AA’ork is being carried out in Central Otago for tho Geological Survey, and altogether there are six parties out. Former reports were made by Gordon in 1888 and AlcKay in 1901, but tho present investigation would be very thorough indeed and a-11 matters would be attended to in detail. The rods now were more exact with the prismatic compass and chart. Air. AV. Skoy, Into Colonial Analyst, in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, Vol AH., stated that the oil was a true paraffin oil, as are most, if not all, those from tho United States, and it resembled the Canadian oil. Dr. BelJj, said Mr. Adams, was greatlv interested in Gisborne oil and hoped "that it would turn out another Baku. At tlio later place, a well was tapopd and 50,000,000 gallons wore lost in ton'days, but when it was got under control, it yielded a groat quantity, ’ . There had been no survey in the Taranaki fields since the arrival of Dr Bell, although there had been reports by Mr. AlcKay and others during the late Sir James Hector s time. Air. Adams had made no examinations at Taranaki and therefore he could express no -opinion. Tho party, consisting of five, leaves this morning to commence operations at Waitangi Hill.