POVERTY BAY PETROLEUM.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 265, 17 April 1875, Page 2

POVERTY BAY PETROLEUM.

Perhaps, after all, it is a wise dispensation of Providence, that causes us not to see ourselves as other people see us; to think as other people think; or even to form similar opinions of those things that we do see, to those which are entertained; by our follow men. An able writer, and and a would-be historian, who flourished in the time of our “ good Queen Bess,” bearing a commotion in the streets, sent three of his servants to ascertain what the rioters were doing. They returned at different intervals, each telling his own story, neither one of which tallied with the other. Having listened attentively to each of his servants, he then addressed his friends to the following effect. “How is it possible for me' to write a correct history of things that I have never seen, when three of my fellow men cannot agree as to the facts of what occurred at an ordinary street brawl, which they have: witnessed ?” The writer of these few lines, wishes the foregoing preface, to show that, because he may not see things as other people sec them, or think as others may do, he does not write in a spirit of opposition, but merely wishes to convey the impression left on his mind, after a visit to, and an inspection of the works of the Poverty Bay Petroleum Company. Of the trip to and from the springs, suffice it to say that having had a very jolly companion I enjoyed it very much, was very pleased with the appearance of the country through which we passed, and ouly regretted that the site of the town of Gisborue had not been fixed somewhat nearer to, if not on the spot now occupied by the township of Ormond. Arrived at the springs, a visitor is at once surprised, knowing that oil has not been struck, to see the amount of permanent works constructed nnd in course of erection. No doubt these permanent fixtures, that have been erected in a most substantial and expensive manner, may all be needed, when oil is struck, or perhaps when the oil-bed rock is reached. But let us glance at the other side of the question, and if it is not high treason, suppose that oil is not struck. What then becomes of all these pretty fixings? How much per cent, will they return to the Company? Perhaps the Chairman of Directors, the Editor of the Standard, or some other man, might like to ornament his house-top, with the derrick, or an amateur astronomical society might outbid them. The long rope with big boring chisel attached, might be utilised by an “ Earthquake Pendulum Company,” limited. But to resume. Having got over our veneration for the massive fixings, we ventured to glance down the shaft; this has been sunk “.on the square boys,’'’ four feet by four, to the depth of about 110 feet, and slabbed from top to bottom. We were informed that this said bottom kept on rising; gas was the propelling power. If this was a fact, and there can no doubt about it, the information coming from the highest authority obtainable, it is only reasonable to suppose that the work of sinking this wonderful shaft, was only continued with a view of keeping the bottom from coming to the top. This stupendous paradox had not culminated at the termination of our visit. The gas, however, tickled our nostrils, and a trickling of oil could be plainly traced from about thirty feet. down the shaft, a bucket full of which was drawn up for examination. Altogether after carefully scrutinising the shaft and its substantial slab work, one could not help exclaiming with Mark Twain, or some other man, that there is no difficulty iu digging a hole iu the ground, if you have money enough to pay for tho digging, but those who try this sort of work are always surprised at the large amount of outlay necessary to make a small hole, bar fixings. The earth is never willing to yield one product, hidden in her bosom, without receiving an equivalent for it. With her it is simply a question of barter, and when you ask for kerosene, she is apt to require gold in exchange. Tho little surface pools, where a small quantity of water and oil seemed to percolate and bubble through the soil, were next in reviewing order. These appeared to bo confined to the western side of a narrow spur, and continued in an almost direct line from the shafts, until the gully below them takes a precipitous fall, when all trace of oil is lost. Another spot is said to exist, on the eastern side of the spur, where the oil and water trickle out from, what was sp< ken of as, the rock. We did not see that. It was in the bush and only known to the few. It must be understood that inin ediately at the back of the shaft is a g< od sized hill, from

which at some remote period, has detached a large laud slip, now forming the basin in which the shaft lias been sunk. The shaft has been sunk for the avowed purpose of reaching the bed rock, but at what depth the rock lay, or whether any exist at all, is quite mythical, at all events there is no true bed rock that I could see to be found cropping out on the creek road from Mr. Cuff’s hutt to the works. The general lay of the country and the formation of the stuff that has been taken out of the shaft, would lead any practical person to conclude that no bed rock existed nearer than 500 or GOO feet. Now, considering that no true indications of bed rock could be found, would it not have been wise to have prospected in the ordinary way, —viz., by boring,—a plan generally adopted by experienced men when they wish to ascertain what is below the surface, no matter be it coal, iron, stone, or any other material? But, perhaps, this means was too simple. All that would have been required would be an outlay of some £5O or £6O iu the purchase of a set of tools similar to those in use iu the Southern provinces in boring artesian wells. By means of these tools, in a formation such as that at the Oil Springs, three men would sink with ease 50 feet per day. Thus for a comparatively small cost, the whole length of tho spur, on which the oily indications appear, might have been tested. Or another plan, and a far cheaper and more feasible one, than that adopted, w’ould have been to have driven into tho spur at the lower level where the oil is said io show itself near the roek. I now come to consider the likelihood of the existence of an oil spring in the locality. The Maoris state that years ago, the water flowing down the creek, (the head of which is at the land slip—the site of the shaft) was so impregnated with petroleum that it was unfit for use. Now we know that from earthquakes and other causes, groat subterranean changes arc constantly going on in New Zealand. Places where extraordinary springs, hot, salt, and others, have existed on a grand scale, are now quite extinct, with nothing, perhaps, save a small mound, to mark the spot whore once existed a beautiful and vivacious spring. Such being the ease, may not the source from which petroleum, that at one time flowed from these springs and polluted the water of the creek, have found a different outlet ? To tap this it may be necessary to commence at a very low level, and thus prove the old adage, that it is not always safe to sit in the highest place first. Junius.