TARANAKI PETROLEUM DEPOSITS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7382, 4 June 1895, Page 3

TARANAKI PETROLEUM DEPOSITS.

About thirty years ago Sir Julius Voxel's attention was first directed to the oil deposits existing near the Sugar Loaves, and with a number of other Dunedin gentlemen, including Mr B. L. Farjeon, formed a company, and instituted boring operations (writes the Taranalci Herald). The available appliances were, of course, of a rude character, and there was no one experienced in tho quest to direct operations A bore was, we believe, put down, but there was no catiug, and it quickly filled up with water, through which, nevertheless, a not inconsiderable quantity of oil managed to force itself. Those engaged in the boring arrived at the conclusion that they had gone boyond the oil bearing strata, and as thero were no signs of a flow which would furnish a continuous supply, the task was abandoned, and all that had been spent was lost. Sir Julius Vogel, however, retained faith iv the affair, and with the aid of English capital, re-entered on the aearoh for oil in a very systematic manner.

'Ihe first step of the Ensrlieh company was to engage the services of au expert in tho searoh for oil, and a Mr Booth, a Canadian by birth, with groat experience in tho oil regions of America, and moro lately employed in Galicia in sinking oil wells, was sent to New Plymouth, taking with him several experienced Amaticau workmon. A complete boriog apparatus of the most improved character was also despatched from Home, and on Lid arrival Mr Booth went to work to S)lect a site for bo>ing, and to eroot the nnohinery. Tho spot ho chose was immediately at the base of tha breakwater at Moturoa, on the land tide of the railway line. Hero a building to shelter the machinery was run up with wonderful celerity by the Arnerioan workmen. Ihe machinery for driving the boring rods was very massive, and a ten-horse po j?er engine and boiler supplied the motive power. Acoidents whioh havo unacoountably occurred, such as tha bore getting blocked through tho "sinkorbar" falling in, and other troubles, whioh it is unnecessary to refer to here, led io the English syndicate soiling tho plant, rights, &c, to a fow gentlemen in New Plymouth, who with praiseworthy enterprise started tho works again. Several attempts woto made to ol«ar tho bore, and all resulted in failure, and for a time the works wore abandoned.

Mr Samuel then went to Sydney, and I there drew the attention of some moneyed gentlemen to the fact that for a considerable distanoe round the Sugar Loaves tho sea, when oalm, was frequently covered with a film of oil, whioh in the sunlight shows the most lovely prismatic colors, and that on the beach near the breakwater, when tho tide waa low, oil gas might be observed bubbling up in all directions. If one of the boulders was disturbed from its bed in tho sand, a deposit of oil and etude paraffin was sure to bo discovered beneath. He alao pointed out that for some miles inland towards tho base of Mount Egmont, indications of oil were freely apparent on the surface, and wellß sunk in the locality emit a sirong odor of kerosene, and the wator was frequently tainted. The Sydney gentlemen got interested, and agreed to invest some money in the venture, sending Mr R. Fair, a petroleum expert of considerable experience, to report. This he has now done in a I favorable manner, as we have ehown above,