WANGANUI.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 46, 27 April 1866, Page 3

WANGANUI.

Petroleum. —Taranaki, we hope, is about to make a good thing of its iron sand, and a better still of its petroleum. Wanganui may also drop in for its share of good fortune. It seems more than probable that there is petroleum not not far from this town, and certainly in this district. Persons bathing in the river, at particular times of the tide, lind their bodies oily and sleek, as if they had been rubbed by some unctuous liquid, evidently betokening the presence of oil in close proximity to the margin of the river or some of its tributaries. The oil must percolate through the soil into the water. This fact may not amount to much, but it is worth knowing, and should at least, cause our settlers to keep a sharp look-out, although most probably the discovery will be fallen upon accideutly at last, as it was in America, where the influx of wealth and population consequent upon the export of petroleum is marvellous, eveu amid the standing marvel ofthe unprecedented growth of that great country. Native News. —Tariu the native who accompannied Kereti to Waitotara, at the time when the latter was killed, as just been on a second mission thither. Pie returned last evening, and reports having seen Kepa te Panuku and about forty of the Ngaraura tribe, who have expressed their willingness to make peace, and are awaiting the arrival of the Governor aud Hori Kingi, to do so. — Chronicle, April 21.