THE SEARCH FOR OIL

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 148, 26 June 1939, Page 14

THE SEARCH FOR OIL

POSSIBLE NEW PROJECT.

BAY OF PLENTY RUMOURS.

(From Our Correspondent.)

GISBORNE, Sunday.

The possibility of a new oil project being opened, up in the Bay of Plenty is exciting some interest among those in touch with various efforts to locate commercial petroleum in the Dominion. Reports now in circulation credit the Superior Oil Company, one of the many United States organisations Touped with the independent* for the reason that they have no association wWi the. major group headed by Standard QB with having taken up drilling rights in the Bay of Plenty, as well as in other parts of New Zealand, and it is stated that a survey of the possibilities in these districts is to be undertaken at once.

From those acquainted with the oil business in the United States it has been learned that the Superior Company u headed by two brothers, who have made their mark in the industry in the United States and in Canada. No official in. formation is availa.ble as to what New Zealand rights they have taken up, and the movements of their representative* in the Dominion are 'characterised by a complete absence of publicity, but it is believed that geological and seismographical experts are working on behalf of the company.

The areas in which the Superior Company is reported to have secured rights from the Government have not been prospected extensively before,-4>nt they adjoin those in which the New Zealand Petroleum Company, Ltd., and the Shell Company have established right*.