"Struck Oil."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7848, 14 June 1905, Page 2

"Struck Oil."

J'KTROLKUM BORING AT UOTCUOA. Aftei' various vicissitudes the petroleim l>oring enterprise api)ci>r.s likely to be crowned with success, w Inch would be a great impetus to I the* ui\vn. When the New Zealand Oil U.lls Proprietary recently wenti into ii.juKialion the boring rights at the Moturoii site were uc |uiro;l by u new c:>mpuny formed with a Capital of JS'MUO in 100 shares, u large in-Ui'i'-t luing held locally, whilo thcru are also shareholders throughout and beyond Ihe Colony. Slme that time boring hus been actively pursued under the iiwiliaguni'.'nt of Mr Fair P The bore hasbeen put down a further 180 feet in ihe last few we.'ks, Wiu total rli'pth now terns nbout 22'iO Mil, the deepest yet sunk in the district. 'l'h.; stratum met with has been promiping, all'! on Tuesday the welcome I news reached town that small quantities of oil had Ixjon mel with. A visit to tho scene confirmed tlw news. Mr Fair, who hus all been sanguine of ultimate success,, showed the local directors und others who visi'id the scene in keen anticipation, ihe material got from tho bore, which w.as intermixed with The clay sludge was pungent with petroleum, and all expressed their keen gr.Uilication of tho protpectivo fulfilment of their hopes. Mr I'air explained that the bore has now pierced about two feet into a • layer of sandstone, which' is tho stratum in which oil is found. "The indications of u. good flow are very

bright," he said, "and though we have not actually reached -it, I belie>\ ,1 the flow will be met with in a day or two. The conditions have been so marked (or the past few days 0101, I have boon fully expecting some such development,." The boring operations were watched v.ith considerable interest by the spectators, and whon the pump was put down to tho bottom level, there wore nfl sorts of speculations as> to the result). On the last essay there was a terrific escape of gas, which from the traces of oil obtained must have Ix-en petroleum gas—a most en- j cournging indication in the circuuir stances. The force of gas was so irn.au as to retard the huge do- , scjnding apparatus, and when th» pump was drawn up there was a report like u. pistol shot. ".You don't want to light, any matches here," the manager warned the smokers among those congregated. At 4.45 work was stopped for l the daj. and several of those present took samples of the crude oil, which was intermixed with the sludge, to show the "•doubt ng Thomases'" in

town. Holing will Ik- continued to(hi\, and the bore, which is encased to within a (ew I'cet of the bottom, will 1)K provided with nil appliance to shut down the flow <>t" oil, should the discovery luko that form. Tliu "cap" will be completed by Messrs ORcy and Uollo to-day. A meeting of the provisional directors, Messrs MonUTth, Honeyfield, tTeed, J. H. I'arker, and Kelsey, wiitW jMr 1). Caing, as secretary, will be held to-day, to decide matters re-

quiring their attention. It is understood lh« company has the option over the two abandoned boring sites, with the history of which the public iro familiar. Tho water difficulty, which was the ruination of the bore in which oil was discovered a few vears' ago, is obviatod in tho present instance by the system of iron casing adopted from the beginning, so thut, should the discovery prove extensive as development is proceeded with, there should be no obstacle <n 'the way of putting a good commodity on the market. The news acted as a tonic in business circles yesterday, ;pnd further intelligence is awaited with much expectancy. The promised Government subsidj of £3OO on the discovery of oil opr peal's about due*