PETROLEUM AT PAPUA.

Mataura Ensign, 14 May 1912, Page 5

PETROLEUM AT PAPUA.

INTERESTING POTENTIALITIES. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —COPYRIGHT, j PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received May 11, 10.30 a.m. j SYDNEY, May 14. j Mr Lett, the discoverer of petroleum at Papua, has returned. He is enthus-, iastie. concerning the possibilities of the enterprise. The held is situated on the Bailala River about the centre of the gulf division, its extent lias not been ascertained. I An interesting proposal is being considered by the Minister for Defence, in connection with the recent discovery of oil wells in Papua (stated the 'Daily Telegraph's' Melbourne correspondent writing on April 1!)). Optimistic, reports were received by the last mail from Papua, and Seua:or IVarce is hopeful that a. rielriiud has been made.! The proposal is that the Defence Do-] partment should establish a national re- 1 finery in Papua, and obtain there the oil required for the fleet unit, and also, if possible, supply it for commercial puiv: poses. The deparimem's bill for oil fuel will when the. fleet unit is completed next year, be at least £'32,00!) a year; and an immense saving would be achieved if the Papuan petroleum could he. used. The destroyers and cruisers will use 14,000 tons of oil fuel a year, and the Xaval Board has been paying from 60s to Cos a ton. Another and even more important aspect of the find is that the fleet will be independent of imported fuel, should the Papuan deposits prove as good as expected. Mho lind was made by a Papuan miner, who chastised his "boy" for "putting kerosene in his billy of tea." The hoy took the miner out to a well, in which kerosene was thick on the water. The Minister for External Affairs sent Mr Came, the New South Wales Government Geologist, who was looking for re-! ported coalfields on the Vailala River, to examine the petroleum, and it is his report that is now raising high expectations. Mr Garno has reported a find of great dimensions, He sent samples to Sydney for analysis. The first sample analysed has not proved as good as expected, but the expert report assures the Government that the deposits are commercial and extensive, and provides a plan showing an inlet on the coast, a few miles from the fields. A sandybar mars this harbor, but a little work would make it a good port. j