High-Grade Fuel From Kauri Peat Swamp?

Northern Advocate, 30 October 1948, Page 3

High-Grade Fuel From Kauri Peat Swamp?

KAITAIA, Sat. (Sp.).—Should depreciation of world petroleum deposits ever restrict future supplies, a potential Northland asset may prove of great value in certain fields. It is not generally known that the many thousands of acres of kauri peat swamp in this area have been proved a possible source of high-grade oil.

Such proof was obtained at Kaimaumau, seven miles from Waiharara, and some 23 miles north of Kaitaia, more than 20 years ago. Oil obtained from kauri peat was

Northland still has the peat, and presumably the oil.

Does the demand for such a commodity exist under modern methods of production and would peat oil ease the strain on already hard-pressed petroleum resources?

bund to give first-class results when

used with paints and varnishes, and was also used with success in crude form as Diesel fuel for a coastal shipping vessel.

These are questions which can be answered only by experts.

Medium of research was a company known as New Zealand Peat Oils Ltd., which operated on a 3000-acre Crown land lease about four miles from the then active Xaimaumau port.

Operations, although extending for some 12 months, did not progress beyond the stage of experimental output.

Two retorts were used and a quantity of high-quality oil produced, much being given away for sample purposes. The oil was secured by distillation, and peat was dug by hand. Reported outlay of the company before activity ceased was £32,000, including £IO.OOO spent on road access. Ambitious plans included provision of a four-mile pipeline from the refinery to Kaimaumau port for bulk shipping, but the construction stage was not reached.

Independent of this company, Mr W. J. Steed, of Waiharara, at an earlier stage investigated peat and kaurigum oil prospects on behalf of Australian interests.

He despatched peat and gum samples across the Tasman for processing and also participated in local distillation experiments with some success. Results and subsequent reports were startling.

Most startling to Mr Steed personally was the explosion of a home-made retort loaded with kauri gum chips. It blew up, under pressure, with what Mr Steed recalls as one almighty bang. Nobody was hurt and the experiments were continued to prove that high-quality kauri gifm gave off an 'almost colourless oil of excellent burning properties.

Lower-grade oil was secured from peat and cheaper-quality gum. One report from an Australian engineer indicated that, provided peat could be handled mechanically at no more than 3d a cubic yard on costs then ruling, full-scale production of oil would be economic and worthwhile.

No Queries About Drivers' Petro!

WELLINGTON, Sat. (Sp.).—Traffic inspectors have not been instructed to stop motorists at random and ask them where they got their petrol, nor have they been doing this, said the Oil Fuel Controller (Mr G. L. Laurenson) yesterday. He was replying to allegations made recently by the Automobile Association (Auckland).

A recent notice in the Gazette (page 1259, No. 53, October 7, 1918) authorised traffic inspectors of the Transport Department to obtain certain information which might be essential in testing abuses of the rationing system.

It had been the practice to issue individual warrants to inspectors, and the gazetting of the notice was merely to avoid this and to inform the public. Inspectors had similar powers under the wartime rationing system. These were not exercised except by direction of the Gil Fuel Controller in cases of suspected abuses.