Seeking to Strike Oil

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 4

Seeking to Strike Oil

Ramifications of , Companies Extended MINISTER CONFIDENT Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. A large area of land in the Murchison district has been taken up by an oil prospecting company and geophysical surveys are now being carried out Other areas also reserved for development are in Taranaki th> cast coast of the North Island. An early beginning of drilling on the West Coast was expected, said the Minister of Mines, Hon. P. C. Webb, this evening when he reviewed tho progress of oil discovery efforts in New Zealand. “I am extremely gratified with the response made by large interested companies in their endeavour to discover oil,’’ continued Mr. Webb. “Approximately 50 eminent geologists and geophyisists are already employed in making surveys before definitely deciding whether drilling is warranted. All this preliminary work is essential and the progress being made Is excellent. I am convinced that if oil exists in commerical quantities the drilling machines in conjunction with the expert mine operating men and geologists will discover it.’’

In addition to areas in Taranaki, the west coast of the South Island and the east coast of the North Island, for which development was being planned, a local company was now drilling near Dargavillc, said tho Minister. “Major boring operations arc taking place near Gisborne. This company has met with considerable difficulty on account of the nature of the strata, but I am pleased to say that that difficulty has been overcome and the last report indicated that drilling operations are going along satisfactorily,” he added.