PETROLEUM IN PAPUA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 71, 23 March 1912, Page 12

PETROLEUM IN PAPUA.

Information about the alleged discovery of petroleum on the Varlala River, Papua, )ms reached the Federal Department, of External Affairs in tho shape* of a report from the Resident Magistrate for the Gulf Division (Miv L. Henderson). On his arrival at Kidi, about fifteen miles up tho Varlala River, Mi 1 . Hendevson went with Mr. G. H. Thomas, who had reported the find, to a place about four miles vast of the river, and recched come lowlullb with a clayey formation. There the indications were found which first attracted Mr. Thomes's attention. They consisted of a series of minute craters at interval* of a few yards for about a quarter of a mile. The mud and water in th© craters was churning out as though there was some groat pressure behind it Mr. Henderson found that the gas whicn exuded ignited readily, nnd gave out a red-bluish flame. There was a- slight odour, which resembled kerosene, while the smell of the fumes resembled that of methylated spirits. The natives told him that this phenomenon had been known for many years, and they called it "Havila." On tho following morning the party proceeded thirty miles up the river, where in the bush<Mr. Thoma* pointed out a second series of indications that he had found. These resembled the first, but were on a larger scale. .One of the craters was about 30in by "30in in extent.* A hole Bft deep waß sunk in one of the craters, and such a powerful jet of gas came ou,t that great difficulty was experienced in extinguishing it. Samples of water and mud were .taken for analysis. While not prolee&ing to giv« an, expert .opinion, Mr. Henderson concluded by .saying that there could be no doubt, of the existent.* ot a r<? markable phenomenon, whose true value I could only be ascertained by practical t«6ts. He considered there wae the posi sibility of a highly valuable discovery having been made, which would justify any layman in concluding that a deposit of petroleum existed there.