WEALTH IN OIL?

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 153, 31 May 1937, Page 2

WEALTH IN OIL?

SOUTH ISLAND FIELD. DUNEDIN, May 28. An event of immense importance to New Zealand and to Otago espcc.ally, if certain investigations at present be ing carr.ed out by the Government art successful, is the" discovery of oil nea>

Miliord bound. This may be a mod ern parallel in wealth to the finding o. gold in Otago. . , , The oilfield is situated in a huge fault extending nearly 20 miles from Martins Bay along the coast, and from do cumentary information placed at thi disposal of a reporter the Government will be prepared to control the entirt production of oil should be potentialities of the field be as promising as ex haustive preliminary investigations de note. Three separate oil occurrences have been located, the oil from seepage being of such purity that it was used by tin research party for heating purposes Actually the discovery of oil in the locality l>y tlie late Professor Black of the Otago University, and a quail lied prospector, dates back to about 3C years ago. Professor Black was sc impressed Jiv the future possibilities oi the field that he put his thoughts in writing, and his report is at present in the possession of the Government. Dr. Woolnough, the eminent geologist and adviser to the Australian Government, attended the Science Conference at Auckland last year and publicly stated that New Zealand was definitely within the oil zone. He added that any indication of oil being | found should be thoroughly, investiI gated- , I Presumably the . Government will • install a pilot bore to test the ground | at Martins Bay.