TARANAKI OILFIELDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1018, 6 January 1911, Page 4

TARANAKI OILFIELDS.

AN INTERESTING ANNIVERSARY, (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! New Plymouth, January 5. To-dny marked tho anniversary of an event of moro than local significance, as a year ago .to-day No. 2 well on the Taranaki Petroleum Company's oilfield at Moturoa Commenced to flow oil on its own account, and has flowed continuously ever since, generally at tho rate of a hundred barrels per week, each barrel containing forty gallons. Tho'whole of this amount has not been saved,' as for soma time drilling and casing operations prevented the oil being run into underground tanks. The actual quantity saved is not obtainable, but it is stated that the company is nearer than most people believe to qualifying for tho first payment of the Government bonus offered for the production of crude petroleum in the Dominion. ■ '

It had at first been intended to have somo kind of. function at tho bore todny, but this has been deferred for a while, as the directors have invited tho delegates to tho Thames Conference of Australasian Mining Engineers to visit th© field at the end of this month, and if they accept the directors will' endeavour to arrango for a fathering of tho Dominion's newspaper editors at tho same time. j

The wells are now being visited by hundreds of people, and these include large numbers from outside, who are astounded at the results achieved. That there is oil at Moturoa is now proved, and in commercially payable quantities. The policy of tho directors in throwing open tho property to visitors is having n good effect, and tho fact that oil has flowed for twelve months is very pleasing and very unique.