THE PETROLEUM AT TARANAKI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1686, 12 May 1866, Page 2

THE PETROLEUM AT TARANAKI.

(From the Taranaki Herald.) Thk Alpha Well.—Messrs. Carter and Co. have sunk about fifteen feet further during the week, and the well is now therefore, about ninety-five feet deep. They would have got deeper, we believe, but they have been trying some change in their boring apparatus. They state that the oil is now obtainable in paying quantities, but they are going deep in hopes of making it a " floving well," in which we hope they may sueceai. Tarasaki Petroleum Company.—This company has issued its prospectus. The capital is to be £IO,OOO in £lO shares, the share list to remain open till the 26th May. The provisional directors are Messrs. JiChilman, C. Brown, W. Weston, T. King, ami J. C. Sharland. People's Petroleum Comfany.— The shares of this company (1000 of £\ each) were all applied for by last Saturday, ami a meeting will be held shortly to consider the propriety of increasing the capital to £2OOO.

The Waikato CoNiiNGKNT.-Last week the Waikato contingent which has been fighting with the Taranakis and Ngatiruanuis against us during the Inst year or so, crossed the Waitara and passed through the Ngatimaru country on their way northward. William King, it is said, had s nt away his canoes for the purpose of avoiding them, so that they had to come more to seaward than they had intended. They were seen at Whakaironga by some of the Urenui natives, who recogniaed among them Tikaoakao, Te Tapihana, WiHona (wounded and taken prisoner at Mahoetahi and cured in the hospital). and others. It appears that they were on their way to a meeting at Hangatiki in the Ngatimaniapoto country, but they stated that it vas not likely there would be any disturbance to the northward; any fighting tW was to be would be to the south, and t» e )' gave a caution as to the kai kohuru, or, as we should say, murderers who are likely to be active in the Patea neighbourhood. As the latter place is where the Government have just determined to begin the surveys, we trust they will see fully the nature of the responsibility they are iucurring. There arc only two alternatives—either to fight and conquer the natives who contest our right to settle there, or to withdraw from the district altogether. If Mr. Stafford attempts a middk'. course he will, as wo have said, be incurring a very grave responsibility, and may possibly have to regret a very grave disaster.— TaranaM Herald, April 21.