SEARCH FOR OIL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 31, 5 August 1939, Page 24

SEARCH FOR OIL

SUPERIOR COMPANY

GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, August 4,

Marking a further important development in the search for oil in New Zealand, a large party of American experts arrived by the Monterey, bringing with them about £1400 worth of equipment.

The party will join experts from the Superior Oil Company, of California, who, through a subsidiary company, the Superior Oil Company, of New Zealand, Limited, have been working in the Dominion since last October.

The company has oil prospecting permits for six areas in the Manawatu, Dannevirke, and Taihape districts, and five geologists have been engaged in these fields for some time.

Operations in New Zealand are in charge of Mr. E. V. Winterer, the company's chief geologist, and Mr. R. E. Turner, head of the New Zealand party. They were in Auckland today to meet the new arrivals. Those on the Monterey included a geophysical party, under Mr. P. C. Kelly, an additional geologist, Mr. N. W. Wickes, and Mr. C. Murdock, who is in charge of equipment.

A large quantity of the most modern equipment for aiding in the search for oil was landed from the Monterey dur; ing the day. It included a portable rotary drill, a recording truck, a geo phone truck, a water truck, a shooter's truck, carrying a drill and a winch for lowering dynamite charges, and several smaller vehicles.

A large-scale geophysical survey will begin at once, and will last from six to eight months. Combined operations will cost £3000 a month. It is not proposed to start drilling for at least six months.