MINING.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14326, 11 April 1912, Page 4

MINING.

GISDOONK OILFIELDS.

SUCCESSFUL __STS.

(SI'LCIAI. TO "THK I'llESS"). GISBORNE. April li). -Sinre the annual meeting of the Gisl>orne Oil Company, preparations have boen in progress to tost the. Goaft level of tho AVuitangi bore, where oil was previcuK'.y struck. For the past, two or three days the manager (Mr A. Young) has been testing the well at the level mentioned witb most, gratifying results. Oil of an excellent quality i s flowing freely, and three barrels n, day are b.*in{- drawn off. It ii tho intention of the Company to pursue theso operations to thoroughly test I lio wel'. Oil was first struck at tho" Gssfl depth on September P'.h, 1909. in n belt of oil sand of about one Zoo. in thickness. Tlio flow then was estimated to produce, about S5 <<> 100 gallon!* per day. The well wa s not properly tested at- the time, but borinf; operations were pushed en. When ihe casinp; had been put down to close on 2000 ft if. was decided to sink a shallow well

a littlo lower down the hill, to further test tho ex'.-ent of the flow, but owin? to difficulties experienced, operations en this well were suspended, nnd the directors decided to lap (heir first well on die top of AA'nitangi Hill. The itreater pori.ion of the casing was withdrawn ond piping was penotrnted at tho GoSft Jovel, with the above rrsalt.

Some months ago considerable activity was noticeab'o Et the AVaitangi well, and it was thought, that this was emanating from tho •strata at tho fiooit lrvcl, and 'he directors came to the conclusion that there, was a p renter showing of oil in tho strata than, the original testing had disclosed. There is considerable epeeuhition amongst the TO*?ident3 of tho ccast, particularly in the direction of Te Ararou, concerning the proposals of a wealthy syndicate that has secured the oil rights over an extensive area m the Waiapii County. Keren']y the syndicate secured tho rervices cf Mr K. lice Clark, and hi? repcrt. up.in (lie prosp-ecl-ti obtaining is stated to have been very satisfactory.