TUAHINE POINT

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2115, 25 June 1907, Page 1

TUAHINE POINT

‘ SIGNALLING FACILITIES. Tlie.Harbor Master (Captain Cumuli ng) reported to tlie Harbor Board yesterday:—“ln conversation with the different people connected with [tlie shipping of tlie port, I find they all agree that one of the greatest benefits the Board could confer would he to establish a lookout and signal station on Tualiina Point, with telephone connection to town. This would enable the agents of tlie steamers to time the departure from tlie wharf to within a few minutes. To sailing ships it would be a greater benefit, as they often got within sight of the port with light win ds and calms, and are off the port for days, when tlio wind often springs up strong from tile southward, and they are driven back tlie other side of the Cape. In cases of breakdown of iiiachinery, like that of the s.s. Squall, it would be a great benefit, anil may be the means of saving a vessel.” The Chairman said a signalman would be a great convenience, but the Board could not go into that matter until they got the light. It was no use putting a man there yet. As to the information to agents, liow

were the iieode to know the times of departure even if the agent did? The Harbor Master said a man could be stationed, there any time; it was' not necessary to wait for the light. The Chairman said there was no great hurry, and tlio matter was loft over. A telegram was received from the Marino Department, asking the height of tlio tower. The secretary said he had replied that it was lift. The department were evidently putting, tlie work ‘on tlie Estimates, '■ -p CTS ■ • —■ ‘ -v■ -.s PLEA ECU 'RKW:\WH^ACTION; ; 'Regarding the local phase of iho petroleum question “M.A.QJ’writes: J have had my attention drawn to the sub-leader in your last Friday’s issue. Ido not agree with the needle ;s mention of the Chairman’s “gravitation” theory; but I do think the directors anil shareholders in tlio local oil company are slow in grasping tlio present situation in connection with the New Zealand oil industry. Wo have indications in this district wliich warrant our making a n immediate start with active drilling, irrespective of obtaining a geological sur•vey of the whole district by the Government geologist. There are, however, at least two men in tlio colony, whi' have had life-long experience m connection with oii matters who aie quite capable of reporting on country and locating a site for boring; so that there should be no delay from that score. Tho question of location ol the spot to drill in new country ■is given by an American oilman in tlio following decidedly clear words: I tie ileieebion of tlio spot where to begin takes seven-eighths luck and onceighth skill; whereas the drilling proper takes the inverse rates of luck

tin cl >skill.’ ’ Hi There arc sure to bo many ary holes” drilled in any new field before the area is proved; but one good flowing or pumping well should make up for many of such. Tlio. fear in mv mind is, that we, by delay, are running a greater risk than most people imagine in .connection with the oil industry. If Taranaki, which hail now a long start, gets the crude oil in bulk on the world’s markets by means of tank steamers, it would Lake 11s a long time to induce even New Zealand, to say nothing of outside capital, to come to this district, without which,there is no hope of developing our field. Tlio fact that the conservative authorities of the Imperial navy have decided to use oil fuel with protected tankages at all naval bases should belli to bestir us to endeavor to obtain a portion of that trade which: is even now likely to go to Taranaki. The Euglisli-owned “Shell” Trading and Transport Co., Ltd., with headquarters in London, and a-capi-tal of over £2,000,000. are 119 w trading ill the Eastern waters with tank is Learners, some of which are t 000 .to IPLO ,OOO tons, and should show us we have our own countrymen who will help us to open up the world s markets if wo will only produce the oil in quantity. New Zealand cannot do this lierself. Other than local people have obtained interests here, doing more or less to the delay. The company or syndicate who first strikes payable oil hero will have a- very big say in the future of the local management of the industry, that is, if they know anything of the business. Therefore I would say “Advance Gisborne on your own account, and not giv© tlio outsiders the plums.”