DRILLING FOR OIL

Grey River Argus, 2 February 1944, Page 4

DRILLING FOR OIL

WORK TO BEGIN AT NO TOWN. No Town, about twenty miles from Greymouth and three to four miles from Kamaka, is to be the scene of New Zealand Petroleum Ltd’s search for oil which is expected to begin within a few weeks. A large quantity of equipment similar in type to that used by the Superior Oil Co., is to be sent from the Taranaki area where it has recently been in use, and drilling is expected to last for about a year. Between 20 and 30 men will be employed. Mr. H. A. La Mar, drilling, superintendent of New Zealand Petroleum, Ltd., who has been in Greymouth making preliminary arrangements, said that the speed of initial operations will depend largely on shinning. Road and bridge' repairs will be necessary , on the No Town road before the equipment can be transported to the site, and if the Greymouth harbour is not workable it mav have to be shipped in the first place to Westport or Lyttelton. • Oil seepage has been observed in. the No Town and Kotuku area for many years, and crude oil has been obtained for use in motor launches. When pipes were driven into the soil many years ago a type of oil emerged as a miniature gusher. The New Zealand Petroleum. Ltd., the head office of which is in New York, will explore ground not previously tested! for oil. . No Town had a bi°" population in early days of gold discovery on the West Coast, but now only one family, lives there. __