SEARCH FOR OIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 186, 21 May 1941, Page 6

SEARCH FOR OIL.

MINISTER VISITS TARANAKI. (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, May 20. Satisfaction with the progress made in oil drilling operations at Midhirst was expressed by the Minister ior Minos (the Hon. P. C. W r e)>b) when he visited the bore with Mr W. Holmes, a past-president of the Trades Union Congress of Groat Britain.

“The plant is operating in hard strata of grey shale that restricts boring to about a foot an hour; hilt it has reached a depth of 6815 feet and should not he long in tapping gravel that may or may not contain oil,” said Mr Webb.

“There is definitely no reason for pessimism, and the fact that they are getting so deep in strata that should he a good cap is encouraging. My own optimism has never been shaken, and X am confident that if oil exists, this plant, and the men in charge of it, will find it. Geologically speaking, the indications are not unfavourable. Although the strata at present being encountered is hard, the drillers have encountered harder in other parts of the world, some so hard that it had been possible to drill only four to five inches an hour to reach gravel that contained oil. Whether such gravel will be reached at Midhurst only the drill can tell; but the Government is pleased at the serious and painstaking effort that is being made by tho company.”