The Gisborne Oil Works.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 139, 14 December 1887, Page 3

The Gisborne Oil Works.

Pnr Tress Association. Gisborne, D 13. Great excitement prevailed hero to-day on the receipt of news that there was an overflow of 25ft of oil from the South Pacific Company’s well. The pipe is 4j- inches in character, and the volume of oil is the same size as the pipe. This intelligence has sent the shares up in such a manner that none are now purchasenble in the local market. On Wednesday the full depth of the bore was 1321 feet, with 1205 foot of 1 jin p’pe. On Wcdnesd-iv and Friday the work was at a standstill. On the latter day steam was got up, and Mr Weaver, the manager, proceeded to measure the depth of the well again, and when the stream of oil shot up in the air the oil immediatly ignited. Mr Weaver, who was at the mouth of the well at ths time, mado a rapid fl'ght from the spot. The fire took place at 10.30, and burnt till 4.30. It is calculated .£IOO will repair the damage. An opinion is expressed that ignition was caused by a rush of gas in the direction of the boiler house, and that coming in contact with the furnace caused the oil, which came simultaneously from the mouth of the pipe to ignite, as a sudden flash appeared to pass from the furnace to the mouth of the pipe. Mr Frank Weaver had a narrow escape from injury by burning. The oil in descent set fire to the back of his waistcoat. burning it, and Mr Weaver does not expect the oil to flow for any considerable length of time out of a 4} inch pipe. The woight of liquid in the pipe is over four tons, and it is not expected such a volume will be continuously raised to the surface by gas alone. Ho intends, as soon as the iirst flow shall cease, to insert a two inch tube within the 4j inch pipe. By this means ho anticipates there will be a steady flow of oil for a considerable peiiod,