Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3,500 Copies Bally. THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1910. OIL FUEL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9161, 10 March 1910, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3,500 Copies Bally. THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1910. OIL FUEL.

While it is undoubted that oil-bear-ing strata of great value exist in various parts of the Dominion, the production of oil for commercial purposes has not bedn attenHed with entire success. Large sums of money have been expended in the necessary works, and it is the Taranaki wells which give the most promise of a lucrative return. It is to be hoped the anticipation will be fulfilled both for the sake of those who have put their capital into the venture and for the general prosperity of the Dominion. Some impetus is likely to be given to the work of investigating oil-bearing country by the recent decision of the Admiralty to use only oil fuel in the British Navy in future. The Empire at present can only provide eight per cent, of the world's oil requirements, and it is most desirable, if not essential. that the Navy should not be dependent upon outside sources of supply which would be liable to be cut off in war time. Consequently it is extremely likely that some systematic and comprehensive action will be taken to test all the fields throughout the Empire where there are indications of the existence of petroleum. New Zealand woxild certainly come within the scope of such an investigation, and it may be that, the requirements of the Navy will assure the future prosperity of this industry in the Dominion. It is significant that already there have been urgent enquiries from England concerning the purchase of the Taranaki works, and very probably a new era is dawning for New Zealand's oilfields, resulting in a great addition to the natural wealth of these islands. The Admiralty has been making exhaustive experiments with the object of determining the respective merits of oil and coal as fuel for warships. It is noAr stated that all the early troubles in the shape of getting proper combustion have been effectively overcome, and the complete feasibility of generating motive power by liquid firing has been demonstrated, so that its substitution for coal on all steamers is simply a matter of ! time. The chief advantages of liquid fuel are that it is much easier to take ; on board than coal; it is one-third ; less weighty than coal per unit of |

heat; it stows very much more compactly than coal, and thus enables a vessel to take in a larger quantity and to command a wider radius of action ; and it requires far less labour to handle than coal, for two men can manage a set of water-tube boilers fired by liquid fuel which would need twelve stokers and trimmers to keep them going with coal. Its chief drawback is its highly inflammable character ; but this difficulty is got over by carrying the oil in a large number of small tanks, entirely separated from each other, so that the risk of explosion is minimised. Coal presents another advantage in the protection that the bunkers afforded to the vital parts of the ship. But admitting certain merits on the side of coal, the compensating advantages of liquid fuel are overwhelming. It may be added that it is much easier and cheaper to get up steam quickly with liquid fuel than with coal, and that the original difficulty caused by the dense, black smoke from the furnaces and funnels has now boon entirely overcome. In view of what the experts have demonstrated regarding oil there seems to bo no doubt that it will be the fuel of the future, and that any country possessing workable oil strata has an invaluable asset. Further developments in the matter will be awaited with keen interest.