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Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 115, 18 May 1938, Page 13

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MACHINERY FOR DRILLING

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

GISBORNE, May 17.

Modern machinery capable of drilling to a depth of 8000 feet will be loaded in the United States next week to the order t>f the Vacuum Oil Company for transport to the Gisborne district. The gear should be delivered in Gisborne before the end of June, and by then everything should be ready for assembly on the site at Totangi chosen by the Vacuum Oil geologists for the initial drilling venture in Poverty Bay. The company has a staff of men working in the district in addition to a resident geologist. * A camp site has been selected at Totangi and huts are to be erected for 30 men, comprising a regular drilling gang. The by-road will be surfaced to carry' heavy loads of machinery and a new bridge is being constructed over Totangi creek on Mr. Dougal Williams's 'property, where a well site has been located. The road construction job has been let to W. S. Goosman and Company, and arrangements have been made with the Poverty Bay Electric Power Board for the supply of electricity for lighting and domestic purposes at the camp. It is proposed to' use the old Ngatapa railway section for the transport of the heavier machinery from

Gisborne. The plant will be operated by Diesel power. The arrival in New Zealand o* the Vacuum Oil Company's drilling superintendent is awaited with interest. He has lately been supervising drilling and production in the Sumatra field. While the preparations are proceeding for drilling at Totangi, further sites are being chosen with a view to extending the drilling . operations later.