Gisborne Oil Works on Fire.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 139, 12 December 1887, Page 2

Gisborne Oil Works on Fire.

Ter Pn ss Association. Gisborne Dec. 10. At '2.30. p.m. on Friday, the ste- n was got np in tho South Pacific O' Works with a view of deepen : og the well, as the tools readied the bottom a sudden best of oil extending over the height of the derrick took place, the oil * istautly ig ‘ted and the flames quickly caught the deiriok. The Ore continued r it : l o o’clock ' ■ 'ho o\m 'og when it was extinguisned by wet sacks being placed over the mouth of tho pipe. The wcU of o : ' itself is not injured, but the work of ercct'ng a new derrick will cause so-, err! weeks’ delay. The f-o is attributed to the velocity at wl 'oh the tools run down the well causing severe f,'c'ion upon the hu'l wheel wl ch is checked by a steel band as a brake. It is supposed the continued f.ioton of the steel has caused the woodwor.c to wee" until the na "l heads have come into con- ! ■ .t, with the band, tlirs causing a spark to have ignited the «as winch came out with the flow of o'l. The engine and boiler were saved from destruction.