The Sun SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1928 “STRUCK OIL!”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 382, 16 June 1928, Page 8

The Sun SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1928 “STRUCK OIL!”

THERE is exciting news in the report that experts have confirmed the discovery of crude petroleum in large quantities at New Plymouth, and if the value of the discovery lias not been exaggerated, the whole of the Dominion will have reason to congratulate itself; for if there is a large oil deposit at New Plymouth, there may be similar, or even more valuable, fields awaiting discovery elsewhere in New Zealand. Many New Zealanders have long been confident that oil would be found in payable quantities about New Plymouth, and six months ago Coal Oil (N.Z.) Ltd., a company formed in Sydney, took the important step of engaging a party of Elbof geophysicists to investigate practical possibilities. Noav it is stated that the survey made by this party has located an area of 400 acres, containing extensive crude oil, west of Paritutu, which was the locality recommended for boring by Professor Wanner, of Bonn University, as far hack as 1911, and was afterwards urgently recommended for detailed geophysical investigation by Dr. Bossard, of Switzerland, and Dr. Kralimann, of the Berlin Mining Academy. It is now claimed that the oil is not only present in extensive commercial quantities, but that it is of extraordinarily rich quality. Other localities in the Taranaki district await the close attention of geophysicists, notably that to the east of Paritutu; and great hopes are held of locating deposits at Waipatiki and in the Gisborne district. If the New Plymouth discovery is as important as lias been represented, it may truly be said that Zealand is to benefit by a great new industry; one that will give her a very large measure of independence in respect to oil fuel. It may he hoped that the courageous ones who have invested their money in backing their belief that oil existed in the Dominion in payable quantities will be amply rewarded. Petroleum, or rock oil, is a liquid, in most cases of a dark brown or dark green colour, and is the raw material from which petrol, kerosene, lubricating oils, fuel oil, paraffin wax and many other products are manufactured. It has been known in various countries under various names since ancient times. Crude oil, in some countries where it is abundant, is transported through pipe lines, some of which are hundreds of miles in length. Immense sums have been expended in locating, or endeavouring to locate, new oil fields, and the oil yield of the world is now over 100,000,000 tons annually, of which the United States produces at least 65 per cent; Mexico about 25 per cent.; and the British Empire less than 2,000,000 tons, principally from Burma, Egypt and Trinidad. Russia produces over 4,500,000 tons, Rumania 1,200,000 tons, and Persia, where the oilfields are under British control, about 1,000,000 tons. In considering the importance of a new oil discovery, there has to he taken into account the enormously increased demand for petroleum in one form or another. Oil fuel is being used to a greater extent every year, and is employed by the largest and most modern liners. The navy now uses it almost exclusively, and it is the motive force in many British railway engines, in place of coal. The enormous increase in the number of motor vehicles, too, is making heavy demands on the world’s supply of oil fuel. If, therefore, the discovery at Taranaki establishes New Zealand definitely to be an oil country, it will have wafted us the greatest breath of prosperity that has blown this way for many a day. Not only would good oil supplies, in themselves, enrich the country, but they would provide fuel very much more cheaply than it can now he obtained, and keep in the Dominion a large portion, at least, of the huge sums that leave it annually in payment for petroleum from other lands.