FIRE AT PETROLEUM WELLS FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 8, 9 July 1912, Page 3

FIRE AT PETROLEUM WELLS FURTHER PARTICULARS.

[BY TBIJSeKA?H — SPECIAL TO THX POST.] NEW PLYMOUTH This Day. N«rr Plymouth was startled about five minutes to 7 o'clock yesterday morning by a loud explosion, accompanied by a distinct quake. Many windows rattled. Flames were immediately to be seen shooting up in the direction of the oil fields at Moturoa, leading many to suppose that one of the wells was ablaze. Ab it turned out, nothing more serious was done than the burning of the derrick, with the winding plant, at No. 5 well. According to the company's night watchman, about twenty minutes to 7 there was a tiemendous rush of gas in the boro, followed tome minutes later by a temfic^expJosion, and in a few seconds the derrick, which was saturated with petroleum as the result of numerous blow-outs which have occurred at this bore during the last few days, was one mass of flames, and was very soon burnt to the ground. The explosion attracted members of the staff, who reside near the works, and they turned their attention to No. 5, and simultaneously saw that the derrick was in flames. They immediately ran to the bore, and, seeing that it was impossible to save the 'derrick, pulled down as much as possible of the small building which connected the derrick with the enginehouso, in order to save the latter from destruction. In this they were successful, and tkey also succeeded in preventing the fire spreading to the large iron tank near by, which contained several hundred gallons of oil. The fire around the mouth of the well was checked with the free use of earth, and then *> steam jet was brought into use, and smothered the fire. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is thought that as the gab rushed from the bore with sucn tremendous pressure, and was fanned by the wind blowing from the mountain, it came into contact with the fire in the engine-house, and thus caused the explosion. Fortunately, the damage is not so serious as might generally be supposed, and apparently is confined to the wooden derrick. The bore itself is intact, and the engine-house and other machinery were uninjured. Had it not been for the prompt action of the watchman and staff, however, it is difficult to estimate what loss may have been sustained. The manager (Mr. Keith) . estimates that the derrick and plant destroyed can be replaced for about £150. Mr. Carter and Mr. Roy (local members of the directorate) were early on the scene, and made enquiries concerning the outbreak, and subsequently the directors held an exhaustive enquiry, a«d came to the conclusion that tho firs was accidental. PASSIVE RESISTERS AND AN INSIGNIFICANT POMPOM. (BT IBLEOHAMI— SPECIAL TO THX SOBT.j CHKISTCHURCH, This Day. The attention of the Passive Resisted Union hu been turned. to a pom-pom

gun stationed in Victoria-square, and it has decided to request the City Council to throw the gun " into the river," because it might have been ueed to kill New Zealanders in the South African war. The gun hae no real significance, and ie an empty trophy. It wae presented to the city by the Imperial War Office after the close of the war, and it has not even the recommendation of having been captured by New Zealand troope. Generally,' it is regarded a& a useless means of gloating over a victory in a campaign against a nation which is now pai-t of the Empire, and its removal would cause no pangs of regret. The union, however, moved Tather hastily in the matter. Without any warning to the council, it presented a deputation at the Council Chambers last night, and asked to have it received at the meeting, which was then in progress. The City Fathers sought shelter in it* standing orders, and declined to receive the deputation because the requisite fortyeight hours' notice had not been given.