THE TARANAKI OIL WELLS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 986, 29 November 1910, Page 4

THE TARANAKI OIL WELLS.

A RECENT VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS.. "K is somewhat surprising that this g?eat interest has dropped of Ir.te' so much out of notice," writes a Wellington visitor to the- Taranalci district. "Yet, the recent measure of success leaves tho prospects of further development well assured. Tho Taranalci Oil Company has three bores yielding oil, one of "which awaits the arrival of further necessary pipes, but both the others which havo been sunk to.over 3000 feet.are continuously flowing, and one of these even since last January. The oil is discharged continuously with much force, but intermittently in volume as tho gas or liquid prevails. At ■ first as tho company nad made no sufficient preparation tho ' oil was largely wasted, but by excavating large tanlts in the clay, somo 150,000 gallons of crude oil are now so stored; the clay proving'impervious to tho congealed oil," which, while discharging, is at about blood heat, and'thickens as if. cools. The present success affords confident warrant .to expect that the company will bo able to develop a largo oil field and wells without the water which, as at present, is intermixed in a small proportion; but the immediate problem before tho directors is not alono the disposal of crndo oil, but its economic conversion and Kilo as kerosene, benr.ine, lubricants, paraffin, and pitch. In its success so far the company has unquestionably a valuable asset; for its development, knowledge with capital and 'enterprise art required. The directors are discreetly reticent as to their intentions, but negotiations are, bj current report, in train with British capitalists. Yet, surely there should bo sufficient local enterprise to develop an industry offering reasons so valid for its earlv assured success. Why is it that an undertaking with such a probable futuro hangs fire? Have confidence and enterprise really fled our shores, or to what la this duo?"