SOUTHERN CROSS PETROLEUM COMPANY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 47, 23 January 1884, Page 3

SOUTHERN CROSS PETROLEUM COMPANY.

(from our special reporter.) Tuparoa, Wednesday. I visited the oil springs on Monday, and found operations at the upper derrick still suspended pending the arrival of the new pipes, which were expected by the Southern Cross, providing they had arrived from San Francisco. Mr, Weaver and Mr. Feeler were busy at work blacksmithing, getting in readiness for a recommencement of boring operations. The pipes found to be unserviceable are still lying at the landing-place at Tuparoa, but will possibly be utilised in putting down a bore at some special spot. The derrick at the new ground, situate in the valley two miles below, is now ready, and operations are to be commenced to-day. The work of getting the boiler from Tuparoa to the springs must have been very difficult. In my notes on this East Coast trip I shall give a description of the roacl. The idea that oil will be found here is only speculative, but the managers assign very good reasons for supposing that oil is there, and everything now being fixed in position, the work of boring will be vigorously pushed forward. Before this reaches you steam will be up. I hope, in the interests of the entire district, that the sanguine expectations of the manager at the works will be shortly realised. There are four hands now engaged at this new scene of operations.

Akuaku, midday. While halting at this station, at Mr. Hirtzel’s house, Mr. Stubbs, the General Manager of the Company, accompanied by Mr. Morgan, head-master of the Gisborne School, called in, en route for the Southern Cross Petroleum Works, having ridden overland.