FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 16, 18 July 1936, Page 17

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ITEMS FROM "THE POST'

OIL IN POVERTY BAY.

"After much waiting and many dls- . appointments, it. appears that faith in the Poverty Bay oil springs is about . to'be richly rewarded," says "The Post" of this date fifty years ago.."The news received from the works leaves , little doubt that the oil-bearing strata have at length been reached, and that a continuous flow has really beeu! obtained. For many years the work of prospecting has. been carried on, arid the public at last began to lose all hope of any practical result being attained. Week after week came the reports of so rainy feet being bored) of pipes breaking, of holes being aban-: doned, gas escaping, and everything ;■ happening except a flow of oil, so that even'casual readers of the telegrams became disgusted and the papers at last ceased; .publishing thai reports. In the meantime the: wor|: proceeded, and the shareholders were regularly-called upon to pay up. Large numbers ! gradually ' forfeited their shares, believing the first loss to be the best,- and the scrip became practically- unsaleable. There were some, however, who never lost heart, and their -of purpose -will now be well rewarded. They deserve whatever they get. The development of real ■ oil-producing wells will add another new and great industry to the others this colony already possesses. The demand for mineral- oil is practically only limited by' the supply. Its uses are infinite, and new ones, or new means of using it, are constantly being discovered. The oil spring area' in Poverty Bay is confidently believed to be of a very considerable extent, and it is difficult even to imagine the large results which may attend the development of this new phasel of mineral wealth in the colony. The oil springs willprob- . ably prove to be more permanently valuable than, a gold field. Figuratively as well- as literally we hope it will prove that New Zealarid/.has at last 'struck ile'." '.' . ORIENTAL BAT SAVED. "The kon. G. .H. Johnson executed a wise,strategic movement yesterday by withdrawing his opposition to the amendment in the Wellington Harbour Board Bill, which was proposed to preserve Oriental : Bay as a place of public recreation. The citizens of Wellington have certainly a right to expect the Legislature to regard their wishes in a matter of this khid, and Mr.:.Johnson no doubt, discovered that public opinion was .■ almost unanimously opposed- to : permitting : the Harbour Board to destroy Oriental Bay by' granting leases of its foreshore for the erection of shipbuilders' yard?, foundries,-slips, etc. Time.after time the Harbour/Board has cast covetous eyes on the foreshore of this pretty little bay, and has greedily reckoned up the rents it would- be able to finger if,* instead of being- retained as a- public promenade and place of juvenile recreation, it could be converted to utilitarian purposes. All the efforts of the board have, however, been defeated, we are pleased to say. Notwithstanding the sneers of: ultra-practical people, sentiment has for' once triumphed over the almighty dollar, and Mr. Pearce and his harbour colleagues will have to go further away to obtain a rental from thg foreshore. The last.attempt, made in the Bill under notice, w&s-'a' very insidious one, ■ and might 'easily have passed unnoticed, for the real design was very neatly wrapped up. There was" notfiihg On its 'face to lead one; to suppose'that the' Bill really meant what it did mean in regard to this particular matter.. It ii fortunate that its true meaning was discovered in time, and credit is due to the gentlemen who made the discovery, and. who so promptly and' energetically followed it up until they, had gained their point. The thanks of the citizens of Wellington are due to them for having interposed to prevent an act of vandalism which would have ruined one of the prettiest places on the shores of our harbour." LOANS AND BANK RATES. "The Government should lose no time in pushing the Loan Bill through Parliament, so as to be enabled to place the loan on the London market at the earliest possible moment. Affairs in Europe wear a somewhat menacing aspect, and the advent to office of a Conservative Government may have the effect of precipitating disturbances both at Home and abroad, which would prejudicially affect, the prospects of would-be borrowers. In the event of a European war, and there are a great many people who deem this by no means an improbable event before the year is out, we should have to pay very dearly for any money we might require, even if we were able to get it at all. Delays are dangerous, and such a favourable; opportunity as.is now .apparently; offered of obtaining what we require at 3i or 4 per cent, should certainly not be neglected." . "An increase in the rates of bank interest is a matter of general importance, and we are pleased to be able to inform, pur readers that all the banks doing business in the colony have agreed to increase the rates of payment upon all fixed deposits by 1 per ceijt. - The interest now paid is 4 per cent, on money deposited for three months, 5 per cent, for six months, and 6 per cent, for twelve months." , LOCAL STEAMER BUILDING. "Creditable progress has been made at Captain Williams' shipyard with the construction of the iron steamer upon which the operatives have been engaged for the past few months. The hull of the vessel is now nearing completion, and the deck has been laid down, so that the deck-fittings and the placing of the engines in position are the principal works that still remain to claim . attention; The boiler has been manufactured /by Messrs. Cable and Co., and will be placed-on board within the next few days. It is expected that the steamer will be ready for launching -towards the end of next month. As soon as the stocks are clear, it is intended to proceed With the construction of another steel steamer to the order of Captain J Jones, for use in harbour traffic, and suitable for fishing and other excursions." BATHS FOR KILBtRNIE. "The project for the construction of salt-water baths' at Kilbirnie, on the land dedicated as a public reserve by Mr. J. C. Crawford, is likely to be consummated in time to enable the residents of- South Wellington to avail themselves of the convenience during the coming summer. The trustees'have already let a contract for the fencing ot the reserve, and at a meeting of .the Baths Committee'held last evening instructions were given that tenders for the excavation of the bathing basin should be invited immediately. About £85 has been promised towards the cost of the proposed works, and £25 is already in the treasurer's hands. It is proposed to prepare the bathing pool at once, so that the public may be in a position to judge of the desirableness of subscribing the full amount required for the erection of bathhouses, etc." ■ ■",

A. man summoned at Kingston-on-Thames (England) Police Court for failing to maintain his wife admitted that he had arranged for her to go back-to her parents' home, so that he could save money to bujr.-a-car.