OIL AND GAS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10287, 23 May 1919, Page 7

OIL AND GAS

THE HAZARD OF BOEING.

Before the Industries Committee yesterday.'Mr P. J. Morgan; Government Geologist; stated that he was confident that oil would ultimately be discovered in quantity in New Zealand. In each district where it had been found so far there were defects, Ifhere was so much hazard in; boring for oil'that he would not like to recommend the Government to undertake it. He was prepared, however, to recommend subsidies to any approvedplan. To Mr Hornsby: Tho prospects for oil in the'Tire Valley, Marlborough, are- very great. To Dr Newman; He thought it very likely that New Zealand would develop considerable quantities of natural gas in time to come, but such gas was very likely to give out. In Queensland a town had been reticulated with pipes for natural gas, but when the reticulation was completed it was found that the gas supply had given out. Similar cases had occurred in Canada and the United States.

As. tp the reported discovery of oil near Kaikoura, he had received information to the effect that a bore had been made through 44ft of shingle and 20ft of blue clay. A "blow off” of gas followed, but he understood that the flow had since stopped. Nothing had beon done to tost the locality.