PETROLEUM NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 266, 31 March 1911, Page 4

PETROLEUM NEWS

PROSPECTS IN SOUTHLAND. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gore, Thursday. A representative of the Mataura Ensign was shown samples of crude petroleum, the result of prospecting on the part of a man named Kelly at Brydone. One sample was rich in paraffin, the other was crude oil alone. The large percentage of carbon in the mineral indicates the presence of coal on the same field. The mineral closely resembles that which made famous the Scottish oil industry. It is considered that the discovery opens up wonderful possibilities in Southland. Reticence is observed with regard to the find, but it is understood locally that 300 acres are held over for future development. HON. T. MACKENZIE AT THE BORES. Quite a large number of people visited the bores yesterday. Among them were the Hon. T. Mackenzie and party, whowere accompanied and shown over the works by the chairman of directors (Mr. C. Carter), and his 'fellow directors. A« soon as the party arrived at Xo. 3, the manager (Mr. Keith) removed the cap from the bore. There was a deafening and terrifying roar as the tremendous gas pressure was released. The crowd, taken completely by surprise, scattered in all directions. The sight was not a little amusing. Following the gas explosion, came the oil, which was hurled to the top of the derrick, and came down on the sheds and neighboring ground like a sharp shower of rain. The drains leading from the building* were soon filled with liquid. The pipe tapping the space between the casings flowed into one of the tanks. The boiler that had been used as a kind of gasometer, and which was wrecked the previous day by the terrific pressure of gas, was to be seen, or rather, what remnined of it, and created a good deal of interest, as indeed did all the operations at the bore. . The party then repaired to No. 2, where they saw the oil running, the gas fuel being used, the refining process, and the finished article. The Minister was much impressed with what he saw. He did not conceal his surprise at what had been accomplished, and the extent of the possibilities of the industry. In the visitors' book, wrote: "Bide a Wee."